ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies three interrelated systemic, global obstacles—obstacles to stemming the tragic trajectory of climate disaster. These obstacles, which are human artifices, are capitalism, nationalism, and new imperialism. The chapter begins with brief depictions of each obstacle, while also arguing that these obstacles intersect. I explain how these macro systems have contributed to climate change and how they impede getting any traction on effective climate action. This is followed by critiquing these obstacles using psychoanalytic concepts, which is the typical psychoanalytic approach to addressing social, political, and economic issues. Here I want to explain, relying on psychoanalytic concepts, how it is that many people are tragically unaware that these obstacles threaten human existence and the existence of millions of other species. The last section of the chapter shifts to a different psychoanalytic approach. I identify some of the key premises and principles of a psychoanalytic political philosophy, which become part of a hermeneutical framework for further critiques of capitalism, nationalism, and imperialism vis-à-vis climate emergency. Also included in this section is a discussion on how a psychoanalytic political philosophy provides ideas regarding how to respond to these (and other) obstacles.
