Exploring the Influence of Mental Illness on the Rule of Law in Authoritarian and Emerging Democracies: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Abstract

While psychoanalysis seeks to understand the internal workings of the mind, law regulates external behavior, yet both disciplines shape and reflect human experience. This paper examines the transition from The Rule of Man to The Rule of Law from a psychoanalytic perspective, exploring how both traditional democracies and authoritarian states can achieve this transformation, while others remain trapped in cycles of failed democratization. This study argues that in stalled transitions, authoritarian leaders with narcissistic personality traits align with the fundamental characteristics of The Rule of Man, using large-scale political campaigns to inflict collective trauma. This trauma erodes the societal foundation necessary for legal and institutional transformation, preventing the establishment of The Rule of Law and leaving societies in a persistent liminal state. Through an analysis of Stalin’s totalitarian rule and Pinochet’s dictatorship, this paper examines the psychological mechanisms that reinforce authoritarian rule and hinder legal transitions. By integrating psychoanalytic theory with legal analysis, this research demonstrates how authoritarianism perpetuates itself through psychological manipulation, shaping governance and societal compliance, ultimately obstructing democratization efforts.