Jungian Perspectives on Indeterminate States: Betwixt and Between Borders

299 Pages·2020·8.583 MB·English

by  Elizabeth Brodersen and Pilar Amezaga

‘In our contemporary geopolitical world of transience, mass migration, and
social instability; difference, opposition, and alterity play a formidable role
in the fluidity and imposed re-inscription of identity. In this important and
timely book, Jungian analysts, academics, and social activists perspicaciously
illuminate our current plight where diverse cultural complexes saturate our
social collectives vying for protectionism, exclusionary praxis, and self-security
at the expense of the ‘Other’ living in transitional states of uncertainty with no
status value. This notable contribution to post-Jungian depth psychology will
make you rethink your cherished assumptions about human sociability and the
logic of containment in an uncontained world based on division, nihilism, and
the indeterminacy of our looming collective shadow’.
– Professor Jon Mills, Psy.D., Ph.D., C.Psych., ABPP; Faculty,
Postgraduate Programs in Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy,
Adler Graduate Professional School, Toronto; author
and editor of numerous works on psychoanalysis
including Jung and Philosophy
‘This is an innovative book of excellent and creative contributions presented
at the 2018 Joint IAAP–IAJS Conference in Frankfurt on Indeterminate States.
The collection of papers gives us the opportunity to reflect on states of life that
are uncertain, unusual, not clearly defined, perhaps disturbing, but in some way
always innovative. The book shows how analytical psychology in particular
contributes to understanding and dealing with such situations and processes
and helps balance indeterminate and determinate states. It is a timely book
and confronts us with the most critical questions of our time. The editors did
a wonderful job in assembling all these papers. I wish this publication many
interested readers’.
– Marianne Müller, Past President IAAP; Jungian Training
Analyst and Supervisor, Bern, Switzerland
‘All too often conferences and the books they generate have vague and rag-bag
themes with little genuine coherence. This book is the exception. Not only is
the theme of liminality perfectly chosen for a psychology (Jung’s) that sits
squarely on the difficult interface between the opposites, but it provides the
writers of the chapters of this book with an opportunity to address some of the
key issues of our time. Modern post-Jungian literature is finally addressing
the psychosocial dimension, and this book provides a fascinating example,
with chapters on topics like the psychology of migration across borders and
the phenomenology of liminal gender. Throughout the volume, the range
is immense, covering as it does clinical, ethical, cinematic and sociological
topics. However, what holds the book together is an abiding awareness of the
transformative possibilities that can emerge out of a willingness to stay with
ambiguity’.
– Mark Saban, Ph.D., senior Jungian analyst with the
Independent Group of Analytical Psychologists; Lecturer
at the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies,
University of Essex, UK; author, Two Souls Alas: Jung’s Two
Personalities and the Making of Analytical Psychology

Jungian Perspectives on
Indeterminate States
In Jungian Perspectives on Indeterminate States: Betwixt and Between Borders,
Elizabeth Brodersen and Pilar Amezaga bring together leading international
contributors to analyse and interpret the psychological impact of contemporary
border crossing – both literally and figuratively.
Each chapter assesses key themes such as migration, culture, gender, and
identity formation, through a Jungian lens. All the contributors sensitively
explore how creative forms can help mitigate the trauma experienced when one
is forced to leave safety and enter unknown territory, and examine the specific
role of indeterminacy, liminality, and symbols as transformers at the border
between culture, race, and gender. The book asks whether we are able to hold
these indeterminate states as creative liminal manifestations pointing to new
forms, integrate the shadow ‘other’ as potential, and allow sufficient cross-border
migration and fertilisation as permissible. It makes clear that societal conflict
represents a struggle for recognition and identity and elucidates the negative
experiences of authoritarian structures attached to disrespect and misrecognitions.
This interdisciplinary collection will offer key insight for Jungian analysts in
practice and in training, psychotherapists, anthropologists, political and cultural
theorists, and postgraduate researchers in psychosocial studies. It will also be
of great interest to readers interested in migration, sexuality, gender, race, and
ethnicity studies.
Elizabeth Brodersen, Ph.D., is an accredited Training Analyst and Supervisor at
the CGJI Zürich, Switzerland. Elizabeth received her doctorate in Psychoanalytic
Studies from the University of Essex, UK, and works as a Jungian analyst in
private practice in Germany and Switzerland. She is currently Co-Chair of The
International Association for Jungian Studies (IAJS) with Dr. Kiley Laughlin.
Pilar Amezaga, Jungian analyst, is the Founder Member of the Uruguayan
Society of Analytical Psychology and Professor at the Catholic University of
Uruguay. She is currently Vice President of the Executive Committee of the
International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) and member of the
Editorial Board of the Journal of Analytical Psychology.

Jungian Perspectives on
Indeterminate States
Betwixt and Between Borders
Edited by Elizabeth Brodersen and
Pilar Amezaga
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 selection and editorial matter, Elizabeth Brodersen & Pilar
Amezaga; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Elizabeth Brodersen & Pilar Amezaga to be identifed as the
authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual
chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Brodersen, Elizabeth, editor. | Amezaga, Pilar, 1959- editor.
Title: Jungian perspectives on indeterminate states: betwixt and between
borders / edited by Elizabeth Brodersen & Pilar Amezaga.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2021. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifers: LCCN 2020013080 (print) | LCCN 2020013081 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367339623 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367339630 (paperback) |
ISBN 9780429323072 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Emigration and immigration–Psychological aspects. |
Statelessness–Psychological aspects. | Immigrants–Psychology. |
Jungian psychology.
Classifcation: LCC JV6013 .J86 2021 (print) | LCC JV6013 (ebook) |
DDC 304.801/9–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013080
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013081
ISBN: 978-0-367-33962-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-33963-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-32307-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Times
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
This collection is dedicated to all cross-border travellers

Contents
Notes on the contributors xii
Acknowledgements xvi
Copyright permissions and credits xvii
Editorial introduction xviii
PART 1
Border, migration, and identity 1
1 Crossing physical borders and the making of identity: The case
of Europe 3
MONICA LUCI
2 Challenges to the individuation process of people on the move:
Developing a sense of global citizenship 28
ELISABETTA IBERNI
3 The Mexican-American cultural complex: Assessing the depth-
psychological problems due to challenges of assimilation in
American society 47
VALERIA CÉSPEDES MUSSO
4 Hidden in plain sight: How therapists miss cultural trauma in
trans-cultural white clients 63
RACHAEL A. VAUGHAN