Pacifism As Pathology by Ward Churchill Michael Ryan Ed Mead

Author:Ward Churchill,Michael Ryan,Ed Mead
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
Published: 2017-04-09T04:00:00+00:00

A Therapeutic Approach to Pacifism

A reversal of perspective is produced vis-à-vis adult consciousness: the historical becoming which prepared it was not before it, it is only for it; the time during which it progressed is no longer the time of its constitution, but a time which it constitutes…. Such is the reply of critical thought to psychologism, sociologism and historicism.

—Maurice Merleau-Ponty, 1947

The pervasiveness of “pacifism” within the ostensibly oppositional sectors of American society appear grounded more in a tightly intertwined complex of pathological characteristics than in some well thought through matrix of consciously held philosophical tenets. To the extent that this is true, the extrapolation of pacifist ideological propositions serves to obfuscate rather than clarify matters of praxical concern, to retard rather than further liberatory revolutionary potentials within the United States. Such a situation lends itself more readily to the emergence of a fascist societal construct than to liberatory transformation.174 Thus, the need to overcome the hegemony of pacifist thinking is clear.

However, as with any pathologically based manifestation, hegemonic pacifism in advanced capitalist contexts proves itself supremely resistant—indeed, virtually impervious—to mere logic and moral suasion. The standard accouterments (such as intelligent theoretical dialogue) of political consciousness raising/movement building have proven relatively useless when confronted within the cynically self-congratulatory obstinacy with which the ideologues of pacifist absolutism defend their faith. What is therefore required as a means of getting beyond the smug exercise of knee-jerk pacifist “superiority” and into the arena of effective liberatory praxis is a therapeutic rather than dialogic approach to the phenomenon.

What follows, then, is a sketch of a strategy by which radical therapists might begin to work through the pacifist problematic in both individual and group settings.175 It should be noted that the suggested method of approach is contingent upon the therapist’s own freedom from contamination with pacifist predilections (it has been my experience that a number of supposed radical therapists are themselves in acute need of therapy in this area).176 It should also be noted that in the process of elaboration a number of terms from present psychological jargon (e.g., “reality therapy”) are simply appropriated for their use value rather than through any formal adherence to the precepts which led to their initial currency. Such instances should be self-explanatory.

Therapy may be perceived as progressing either through a series of related and overlapping stages or phases of indeterminate length.

Values clarification. During this initial portion of the therapeutic process, participants will be led through discussion/consideration of the bases of need for revolutionary social transformation, both objective and subjective. Differentiations between objectively observed and subjectively felt/experienced needs will be examined in depth, with particular attention paid to contradictions—real or perceived—between the two. The outcome of this portion of the process is to assist each participant in arriving at a realistic determination of whether s/he truly holds values consistent with revolutionary aspirations, or whether s/he is not more psychically inclined toward some variant of reforming/modifying the status quo.

The role of the therapist in this setting is to be both extremely

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