Editorial

The Journal of Analytical Psychology held its 16^th International Conference from April 11-14, 2024 at Essex University in Colchester, UK. The initial planning meetings and considerations about a topic coincided, in early 2022, with the aftermath of the onset of war between Russia and Ukraine, which equated to a violation of borders. We began to consider borders in a wider sense and how a perception of unsafety and instability grows as borders and prior certainties are challenged, not only geographically, but also in our clinical work, in our theoretical assumptions, and in our cultural beliefs. Under the title “CROSSING BORDERS: Clinical, Theoretical, Cultural and Political Implications in our Changing World,” the programme examined borders dealing with identity shaped under the aspects of cultural complexes and racism, cultural expressions of trauma, gender fluidity and the Self in culture, and working within and across different faiths.

There was a rich, and at times quite lively, exchange among conference participants. Our speakers contributed generously in that they spoke from their hearts, thus sharing with us what very much mattered to them. This openness between speakers, panellists, and attendees all contributed to the success of this conference and was reflected in the very positive feedback we received.

A pre-conference day was devoted to the theme of cultural complexes and racism. The papers were complemented by workshops in the afternoon, in which participants explored the presence of tacit and overt racism in both the history of analytical psychology and in training, and the problem of whiteness and privilege operative in the ongoing harm to persons of colour, and the powerful influence of taboo within cultural complexes.

In his paper “The Current Role of Analytical Psychology in Maintaining Fictitious Boundaries that are Promoted through the Race Lie: A call to dismantle the virtual wall that exists through attitudes of white supremacy”, Christopher Carter r