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During my visit to Russia I found it to be a confused and confusing place.
Since my visit to Russia in October of 1997, I have developed some tentative ideas concerning the possible “place” of psychoanalytic theory and practice in today's Russia. While there, and now as well, I feel that the present Western psychoanalytic establishment, which I believe is very vulnerable itself, may be taking an hegemonic approach toward Russia which would be in Western self-interest rather than in the interest of the Russian people. I think that Western psychoanalysts might be enticed by the market value of Russia in at least two ways: the chance to spread a Western brand of psychoanalytic thought and practice to a potentially newly developing democratic/capitalist nation; and to reap the “profits” of their “God's Eye View.” The “God's Eye View” of the orthodox psychoanalyst is that they represent a universal standpoint that reifies neutrality in all circumstances. In Russia's current political atmosphere of post communism/post-totalitarianism and authoritarianism, neutrality and politics cannot coexist. Russia, with its totalitarian history, has a population that responds unreflectively to authoritarian rule. Western orthodox psychoanalysis delivers its messages with authority. The paradox is that although Western analysts are working from a so-called free model of the mind, their delivery style might greatly appeal to Russians who are used to dogma, rigid thinking, and taking orders. The Russians, it seems clear to me, have “no mental model of freedom” (Sebek, Michael, personal communication, Prague, Oct. 1997). The “God's Eye View” as taken by Western orthodox psychoanalysis might have