Understanding the psychopathology of political ideologies

The main focus of this article is to determine what psychoanalysis adds to the understanding of modern liberal democracy and the political ideologies that counter universal human rights. I will begin with outlining the five competing ideologies that structure our political world today. One of my main arguments is that each of these political positions is shaped by a different psychopathology. Moreover, it is vital to understand the differences among these modes of ideology in order to avoid polarization and move to a more effective mode of governance. By equating political ideologies with individual psychopathologies, I hope to show how particular political movements recruit people with specific mental structures, and one of the reasons for this match between social belief systems and individuals is that political formations rely on shared irrational, unconscious psychological processes.