C G Jung Lecture

The (ir)relevance of Jungian theories in academic contexts: Critical reflections

Wednesday 29 March, 6.00pm - 7.30pm on Zoom

Having been appointed to the first chair of Jungian psychology in a British University 28 years ago, Renos will reflect on the vicissitudes of the presence of Jungian theories in academic settings. Following a historical overview of the tension between therapeutic and academic discourses, he will argue for the value of examining the relevance of specific themes and ideas of the Jungian opus rather than ‘Jung’ in his entirety. Then, he will attempt to discern different thematical directions and epistemological positions that Jung adopted, examining each one’s relevance to academic contexts.

The Speaker

Renos K. Papadopoulos, Ph.D.  is Professor of Analytical Psychology and Director of the ‘Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees’, also, a member of the ‘Human Rights Centre’, of the ‘Transitional Justice Network’ and of the ‘Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub’ all at the University of Essex, as well as Honorary Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Family Psychotherapist at the Tavistock Clinic. He is a practising Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist and Jungian Psychoanalyst who has spent most of his professional life training and supervising specialists in these three spheres. Among the recent Awards he received by various organisations is the C.G. Jung Award 2022, awarded to him by the 'International Association for Jungian Studies' for his 'Lifetime Achievement; for significant contributions in scholarship, leadership, service, mentorship, clinical praxis, and innovation in Analytical Psychology and Post-Jungian Studies.

From the mid 1980s and for about a dozen years he used to lecture annually at the ‘C.G. Jung Institute’ in Zurich (Küsnacht). He served on the Executive Committee of the IAAP for several years and he was responsible for initiating (inter alia) the Developing Groups within IAAP. He conceived of and organised the first IAAP course on Jungian Psychology abroad (in Moscow) and facilitated the founding of Jungian groups in at least six countries. He introduced (and chaired) the first Academic Sub-committee of the IAAP and he organised the first IAAP Academic Conference (in 2002, at the University of Essex). He was the editor of ‘Harvest: International Journal for Jungian Studies’ for 14 years, founding editor of the ‘International Journal of Jungian Studies’ and co-founder of the ‘International Association for Jungian Studies’. His four-volume work ‘C.G. Jung: Critical Assessments’ (1992) remains the lengthiest Jungian book (1750 pages).

As consultant to the United Nations and other organisations, he has been working with refugees, trafficked and tortured persons and other survivors of political violence and disasters in many countries. He founded the first and longest running postgraduate course on Refugee Care. He lectures and offers specialist trainings internationally and his writings have appeared in 18 languages. Recently, he has been given Awards by the European Family Therapy Association for Lifetime ‘Outstanding contribution to the field of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice’, by the University of Essex for the best ‘International Research Impact’, by two Mexican Foundations for his ‘exceptional work with vulnerable children and families in Mexico’ and by the by the 'International Association for Jungian Studies' (the C.G. Jung Award 2022), for his 'Lifetime Achievement; for significant contributions in scholarship, leadership, service, mentorship, clinical praxis, and innovation in Analytical Psychology and Post-Jungian Studies.