Some thoughts on Fanon and groups

Abstract

This paper examines the connections and continuities of the idea of groups in Fanon’s work as a mental health professional and as a professional revolutionary. The first part looks at Fanon’s socio-therapeutic work at Blida-Joinville Psychiatric Hospital in colonial Algeria, including his critique of the failures of sociotherapy (which I prefer to call socio-psychotherapy), arguing that psychiatry must become political. The second part considers his analysis of the Algerian revolution, highlighting the radical changes in consciousness that it has engendered and the pitfalls it faced because ‘consciousness needs help’ and militants need enlightenment. The idea of group work — including everyone in discussion and breaking down the divisions between ‘leaders’ (experts) and the ‘led’ — is aimed at disalienation and enlightenment of individuals, whether in the clinic or in the shack settlement, and can be considered a fundamental element of Fanon’s praxis.