Fratricide In The Holy Land: A Psychoanalytic View Of The Arab-israeli Conflict Project Muse Upcc Books

This is the first English-language book ever to apply psychoanalytic knowledge to the understanding of the most intractable international struggle in our world today?the Arab-Israeli conflict. Two ethnic groups fight over a single territory that both consider to be theirs by historical right?essentially a rational matter. But close historical examination shows that the two parties to this tragic conflict have missed innumerable opportunities for a rational partition of the territory between them and for a permanent state of peace and prosperity rather than perennial bloodshed and misery. Falk suggests that a way to understand and explain such irrational matters is to examine the unconscious aspects of the conflict. He examines large-group psychology, nationalism, group narcissism, psychogeography, the Arab and Israeli minds, and suicidal terrorism, and he offers psychobiographical studies of Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat, two key players in this tragic conflict today. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page vii) Introduction: A Duel in Quicksand (page 3) 1 A Review of the Literature (page 8) 2 Reality Is in the Eye of the Beholder (page 18) 3 Destructive Charismatic Leadership I: The Case of Ariel Sharon (page 36) 4 Destructive Charismatic Leadership II: The Case of Yassir Arafat (page 73) 5 Nationalism, Group Narcissism, and the Problem of the Self (page 87) 6 Psychogeography: The Unconscious Meaning of Geographical Entities (page 103) 7 Denial Is Not a River in Egypt (page 112) 8 Splitting, Projection, and the Need for Enemies (page 118) 9 War and the Inability to Mourn (page 130) 10 The Arab Mind (page 138) 11 The Psychology of Suicide Bombers (page 159) 12 The Israeli Mind (page 174) Conclusion: Can the Conflict Be Resolved? (page 180) Bibliography (page 195) Index (page 259) A Duel In Quicksand -- A Review Of The Literature -- Reality Is In The Eye Of The Beholder -- Destructive Charismatic Leadership I : The Case Of Ariel Sharon -- Destructive Charismatic Leadership Ii : The Case Of Yassir Arafat -- Nationalism, Group Narcissism, And The Problem Of The Self -- Psychogeography: The Unconscious Meaning Of Geographical Entities -- Denial Is Not A River In Egypt -- Splitting, Projection, And The Need For Enemies -- War And The Inability To Mourn -- The Arab Mind -- The Psychology Of Suicide Bombers -- The Israeli Mind -- Conclusion : Can The Conflict Be Resolved? Avner Falk. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-256) And Index. Annotation This book applies psychoanalysis to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Avner Falk makes a close historical examination to show that the two parties have missed innumerable opportunities for a rational solution, and examines the unconscious aspects of the conflict