President’s Statement — Spring 2025

Dear members and friends of the IPhA,

Warm greetings to each of you. As we move further into this pivotal year, I am honored to address you once more as president of our vibrant and dedicated psychohistorical community.

At the end of May, we will gather for the 48th annual International Psychohistorical Association conference.

“Imagining Brighter Futures for Our Divided World: What Psychohistory Can Contribute,” from May 23 to 25, 2025—to be held online.

We are proud to offer a rich, wide-ranging program featuring more than thirty presenters from various disciplines and continents. Our plenary speakers this year are Dr. Nina Cerfolio, Dr. Alice Lombardo Maher, Dr. Ralf Vogt, and Dr. Howard Stein. Each of them has recorded an invitation video that you can watch on our website (https://psychohistory.us/conference/). Our program is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant, covering topics such as reflections on trauma, explorations of authoritarianism, transgenerational dynamics, climate grief, and the inner lives of societies.

This conference represents the fruits of dedicated scholarship and the spirit of community we seek to cultivate. We are not merely interpreting the world—we are trying to heal it together. That work begins with how we relate to one another.

To that end, I want to reaffirm our commitment to our Collegial Communication Policy, which is about to be formally adopted by our association. This document is available to all members and is visibly anchored in our events. It reminds us of who we are and what we are trying to model. We believe in thoughtful, respectful, and compassionate dialogue, even—and especially—when we differ. As psychohistorians, we are trained to look beyond surface tensions to the unmet needs and unconscious fears beneath them. Our collegial culture is not just an internal policy; it is a vital part of the future we seek to embody.

As the world continues to fracture under the weight of inequality, violence, and ideological polarization, psychohistory plays an increasingly urgent role. In this moment of global uncertainty—ecological, economic, and psychological—our work matters. It matters because it illuminates hidden processes, historical wounds, and possibilities for change. It matters, too, because we do it together, as a community of inquiry and possible healing.

We invite you to attend the conference, engage in dialogue, and help us create a 21st-century psychohistory rooted in courage, compassion, and communication. Whether you are a long-time member or are joining us for the first time, you are welcome here. Because your voice matters too!

With deep appreciation and anticipation,

Marc-André Cotton
President, International Psychohistorical Association