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This paper is not specifically concerned with the bomb; rather it uses the method of
analysing language to illustrate underlying political and social phantasies and their origin. The author follows the method of De Mause (1982), American psychohistorian. For his formulations, Bovensiepen relies on Jung's and particularly Neumann's terminology. He demonstrates: (a) unconscious group phantasies in the re-armament debates of the German Parliament (Bundestag). For example, anal- and phallic-aggressive language which points to castration anxiety, (b) the relation of homoerotic male societies to power, (c) regression of the patriarchal group-ego within the Bundestag.
Much is made of the Western patriarchal structure of consciousness when it becomes inflated with God, the creator. Defensive mechanisms then consist of appealing for harmony against destructive impulses and guilt feelings. Bovensiepen regards President Reagan's ‘star wars’ as the ultimate megalomania in the service of patriarchal anxiety and its defences: the masculine group-ego in the throes of an identity crisis projects the regressive destructive aspects on to the mother-imagos, which could be represented by the Eastern bloc countries which consequently become the enemy. On a depth-psychological plane they become the Great Mother in her devouring aspect. Hence the call to arms, the appeal for solidarity and an heroic struggle against her. The author quotes from Chancellor Kohl's speeches which show, in the author's opinion, that he is unable to bear ambivalences. Bovensiepen draws our attention to the truly frightening innocence that prevails among the political power elite.