Fanon, Psychoanalysis and Critical Decolonial Psychology: The Mind of Apartheid

This groundbreaking book examines the psychological dimension of decolonial thought in reference to foundational texts. Previously published as A Critical Psychology of the Postcolonial, this new edition foregrounds the central role of Fanon’s psychology.

Highlighting the contributions of anti-colonial authors to the theorization of racism and oppression, the book demonstrates the pertinence of postcolonial thought for critical social psychology and psychoanalysis via an investigation of a series of key topics. It explores the psychology of embodiment and racialization, resistance strategies to oppression, ‘extra-discursive’ facets of racism, the phobogenic and sexual dimensions of anti-Blackness, and the roles of desire, fantasy and unconscious in ideologies of racism. The book makes a distinctive contribution through discussing the work of authors drawn from anti-apartheid, psychoanalytic and critical social theory traditions, including Steve Biko, J.M. Coetzee, Frantz Fanon, Julia Kristeva, Chabani Manganyi and Slavoj Zizek. This second edition continues to showcase a crucial set of critical resources for an anti-racist (decolonial) agenda, and is updated with new discussion, references and images, with a new chapter on desire, fantasy, and apartheid ideology to strengthen the book’s engagement with apartheid racism.

This is an invaluable text not only for students of critical social psychology, psychoanalysis, and sociology, but for students enrolled in courses on race, racism or decolonial studies. It will also appeal to postgraduates, academics and anyone interested in psychoanalysis in relation to societal and political issues.