We just sent information to you on Dr. Vamik Volkan's talk, TRAUMA, PREJUDICE AND PSYCHOANALYSIS, coming up Wednesday, January 27, at 1pm, Eastern Time.

Dr. Volkan played a significant role in Richard Koenigsberg's career. After quitting his position as Assistant Professor of Behavior Science (no place for a scholar of Hitler, Nazism and nationalism in a psychology department), Koenigsberg was "on his own, a complete unknown" for fifteen years.

Out of the blue, he was invited to participate as head of a Panel at a meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (apparently someone had read his books).

Koenigsberg called his panel "Nationalism, War and Psychogeography" and spoke on the "The Dream of Nationalism." Lo-and-behold, he was teamed up with Dr. Volkan, who spoke on "Psychogeography and Borders."

This was the first time Koenigsberg had participated in an academic conference. What a trip! To be teamed up with the Father of Political Psychology, who played a not insignificant role (believe it or not)i n causing the Cold War to end (see Volkan's photo with Gorbachev below), and who eventually was nominated five times for a Nobel Prize. 

Subsequently, Koenigsberg and Volkan met frequently at ISPP meetings (as well as others) to exchange ideas.

Richard is indebted to Dr. Volkan for helping Richard get his start in political psychology--and for his kindness and support throughout the years.

Best regards,

Mary Helen

PS: The photo of Koenigsberg and Volkan below was taken on a boat ride at the fabulous 1992 ISPP meeting in San Francisco, organized by the master conference organizer--Denis Snook.