The International Dialogue Initiative (IDI) is a private, international, multidisciplinary group comprised of psychoanalysts, academics, diplomats, and other professionals who bring a psychologically informed perspective to the study and amelioration of societal conflict. It aims to provide a reflective space to enable an understanding of how the emotional and historical background of hostile relations – often related to trauma – is being experienced in the present. By doing so, antagonists can overcome resistances to dialogue and facilitate the discovery of peaceful solutions to intergroup problems. This book brings together key members of the IDI to present the theory and practice of the important work they do. At its heart, the book holds the idea that, while traumatic experiences may happen to an individual or a family, they also affect society and large-group identity over long periods of time. In that way, trauma plays out between generations and between countries.
The book is divided into three parts: theory, application, and methodology. Trauma is the key thread running throughout and the distinguished contributors investigate healing, dehumanisation, memory, the pandemic, war, terrorism, identity, culture, the law, justice, and religion, among many other fascinating topics. The authors bring in case studies from all over the world, including the United States, Northern Ireland, Russia, Israel, Turkey, Germany, Egypt, and Palestine. To make sense of these, they draw on a wide range of approaches: group relations theory, group analytic theory, psychoanalysis, large-group psychology, psychodynamic theory, psychology, economics, sociology, political science, history, journalism, and the law, to name but a few. This must-read book brings theory to vivid life and brings hope that our fractured world can learn to heal.
Regine Scholz, Dr. Phil., is training director and board member of the International Dialogue Initiative, and a group analyst. Since 1987, she has worked in private practice, specializing in individual and collective trauma. As board member (2010–2017) of the Group Analytic Society International (GASI) she organized its international summer schools (Belgrade 2013, Prague 2015, Athens 2016). She also is the co-organizer of five conferences so far on the heritage of Auschwitz, “Voices after Auschwitz”. A founding member of the German Society for Group Analysis and Group Psychotherapy (D3G), Dr. Scholz is a supervisor and training analyst of D3G and member of the editorial board of the journal Group Analysis.
Vaseehar Hassan, PhD, Board Member, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia; Senior Associate, Kets de Vries Institute; Executive Coach and Practicum Supervisor, INSEAD –
‘In We Don’t Speak of Fear, Vamık Volkan, Regine Scholz, and M. Gerard Fromm, with the benefit of their combined experience in conducting IDI conferences (a few of which I have attended and greatly appreciated), have carefully selected articles from well-recognized experts and brought to the field of psychoanalysis an excellent book. It should be considered a must-read for everyone interested in large-group identity, trauma, and global conflict.’
Hugh O’Doherty, Founding Member, the Leadership and Peacemaking Global Network –
‘At this moment in time, when tribalism and polarization are rampant, with humanity split into thousands of splintered groups, and the very planet itself threatened, this compelling book, unlike much of the conflict resolution literature, addresses the deep, frequently unconscious roots of conflict, not just the symptoms. With great understanding and compassion, the various authors explain how the profound, historic wounds of shame and humiliation and fear of loss of identity keep so many communities divided and imprisoned. At the same time, they offer a much-needed vision for how human beings might heal these deep wounds and begin to live on the presumption that we are one human family, despite our differences. We Don’t Speak of Fear is a wonderful contribution to the global family and deserves to be read, pondered, and decisively acted upon.’
Gabrielle Rifkind, Author, ‘The Fog of Peace: How to Prevent War’; Director, Oxford Process –
‘After the Iraq war, politicians talked about power sharing amongst the Sunni and Shiite militias. A worthy political aim but one that did not recognize the psychological impact of the different religious sects having killed each other in the conflict and of the mistrust, suspicion and fear that continued to loom large. This book goes a long way toward addressing psychological states of mind post-conflict and recognizes the need, if there is to be political progress, to address the trauma of war and to create safe spaces to do this. I highly recommend this book for its sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and in-depth thinking, expressed by a rich array of writers.’
Elco Schwartz, Executive Coach/Consultant; PhD Candidate in Governance/Organizational Behaviour, Amsterdam Business Research Institute –
‘With this unique book, the International Dialogue Initiative and its authors are offering a much-needed helping hand to humanity by illuminating how large-group conflicts can be effectively mediated. Both theory and culturally diverse practice illustrate a multidisciplinary approach, pioneered by Vamık Volkan in 1977, to maximize psychological understanding of the psycho-historical origins of conflict and the possibilities of reaching peaceful conflict resolutions. As a father of two young children, I find that this book and the call for what is described as “depressive” leadership capabilities could not have been timelier.’
Harriet Wolfe, MD, President, International Psychoanalytical Association –
‘We Don’t Speak of Fear presents a profound psychoanalytic approach to understanding large and small group conflict, an approach that requires speaking of fear. Editors Vamık Volkan, Regine Scholz, and M. Gerard Fromm, and their interdisciplinary group of psychoanalytic thinkers, recognize the courage it takes to identify and express the feelings that accompany overlapping individual and collective trauma, whether current or transgenerational. The destructive impact of humiliation and shaming, the allure of authoritarian leadership in the context of fear and despair, and the complex nature of dehumanization are just a few of many clearly presented insights into intractable conflict. In the current climate of rampant polarization, this book is a must-read for anyone working with groups with the goals of constructive collaboration and adaptive change.’
Andy Cottom, psychodynamic psychotherapist with a background in warzones, New Psychotherapist, Autumn 2023 –
‘This book explains brilliantly not just how conflicts arise, but why. Using their own first-hand experience and that of others in the field, the authors introduce the reader to a psychodynamic perspective of why fear is so often replaced with anger. […] This carefully edited book leads the reader through the fluctuations in ‘othering’ of recent history in a style that is accessible to therapist and lay reader alike.’