Irrational in politics

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Irrational in politics

6.30

In the first part of this pithy pamphlet, Brinton sheds light on the failure of purely rational arguments to win people to socialist causes that are in their own interest. Summarizing the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, Brinton points to the authoritarian family structure, and systematic sexual repression, as the hidden roots of people’s irrational and seemingly inexplicable fears of joining the fight for freedom and justice. In the second part, he examines the failures of Soviet Russia to shore up and extend early gains mades in the struggle for sexual freedom after 1917. He points out how closely the emergence of the brutal Stalinist bureaucratic regime in the political realm was mirrored by the rolling back of freedoms in the realms of sexuality, the family, and child-rearing. It is a powerful and illuminating case study that provides ample evidence to support the Reichian theory presented in the first section of the pamphlet. This short pamphlet presents only a brief overview of Reich’s theories– those interested in finding out more would do well to look at his collection “Sex-Pol”, which treats his efforts within the German Communist Party in the 1920s to combat sexual repression through mass organizing, and his book “The Sexual Revolution”, which presents his ideas more systematically. Also, Brinton makes few practical suggestions on how to actually combat sexual repression. The anarchist psychologist and social critic Paul Goodman’s masterwork “Gestalt Therapy” develops Reich’s early ideas, and presents a wealth of theory and practical exercises for overcoming repression. Also worthy of attention is the “SomaTherapy” developed by the Brazilian anarchist psychologist Roberto Freire.

SKU: 23850 Category: Tag:
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Author: Brinton, Maurice
Year: 1993
ISBN: 9780961328962
Pages: 64
Language: English
Publisher: See Sharp Press
Publisher's city: Tucson
Publication date:
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