Drawing on contemporary progressive psychoanalytic thinking and critical social theory, this article examines some of the orthodoxies and unchallenged assumptions in the theory and practice of systems psychodynamics and its offspring group relations. While their foundational forms have been undeniably important to our learning, we question why and how the structural and systemic underpinnings of real global inequities, and social justice organisations' efforts to address these, are not having more impact in systems psychodynamic and group relations theorising and practice. We use our experience consulting with social justice organisations in their efforts to address these global inequities, and our development and adaption of the groups relations model to challenge potential orthodoxies and question resistance to change within the field. At heart, our inquiry is addressed to those of us committed to systems psychodynamic work and to the originating ethos of that work, in a vulnerable global context and to question, as Carson does, humanity's faith in existing technological and sociopolitical progress.