Statement of the President – 2026

Dear Psychohistory Friends,
Dear Members of the International Psychohistorical Association,

As we close out another year marked by turmoil, conflict, and intensifying social divisions, the work of the International Psychohistorical Association remains indispensable. Psychohistory insists on understanding the unconscious foundations of human behavior—and the conditions under which deeply entrenched cycles of violence can be broken.

On November 14, 2025, the IPhA hosted a special online event, Psychoanalysis Under Conditions of War. Two distinguished presenters offered powerful historical and clinical insights into how psychoanalysis both emerges from and confronts the psychic realities of war. The event brought together approximately one hundred participants, fostering rich exchange and demonstrating the depth of interest in these urgent themes.

Looking ahead, I warmly invite you to participate in our 49th Annual Conference, titled Breaking Cycles of Violence: Psychohistorical Perspectives on Individual and Collective Healing. The conference will take place May 29–31, 2026, and will explore the psychological roots of violence as well as pathways toward healing at both individual and collective levels.

The program is organized around several interrelated themes, including:

– Individual and collective psychology, such as psychobiographical studies, trauma and transgenerational transmission, and the psychological implications of contemporary developments, including artificial intelligence.

– Social divisions and identities, including the dynamics of state violence, scapegoating, migration, and displacement.

– Pathways to healing and transformation, including cultural resilience, social justice, human rights, and nonviolent communication.

Plenary speakers and keynote sessions will be announced soon. We are planning a rich mix of panels, roundtables, and opportunities for open discussion. The call for proposals has been extended to January 26, 2026, and those planning to present a paper or organize a panel are invited to submit their proposals by that date.

Conference registration, proposal submission, and membership options are available here:
https://psychohistory.us/conference/

Membership in the IPhA is not merely a way of receiving newsletters and event notices. It is an expression of commitment to a serious, intellectually rigorous, and psychologically informed understanding of history and human behavior. Membership sustains our activities — including this conference, future events, and our ongoing educational work — and provides access to reduced registration rates for the May 2026 conference.

I strongly encourage current members to renew their membership for 2026, and I warmly invite those who are not yet members to join us. Every renewal and new membership strengthens our community and makes our work possible.

I also want to note that our most recent issues of Psychohistory News, released during the holiday season, include timely and thought-provoking contributions, and members who may have missed them are invited to read or revisit these issues.

In closing, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the dedication, insight, and active engagement of our leadership team and members. In a world where denial and oversimplification are too often the path of least resistance, the IPhA remains committed to rigorous inquiry, psychological depth, and historically grounded understanding.

I extend my best wishes to you all for a meaningful, reflective, and hopeful 2026.

Sincerely,
Marc-André Cotton
President, International Psychohistorical Association

Previous Statements:

• Fall 2025 – Statement of the President
• Spring 2025 – Statement of the President
• January 2025 – Statement of the President
• June 2024 – Statement of the President