How would Fanon fare in group analysis? An introduction to ‘Fanon and group analysis now’

This introduction to ‘Fanon and group analysis now’ argues that group analytic responses to decolonizing group analysis fold into at least five themes that coalesce into Fanon’s theorization of alienation and the impossible encounter in any colonial situation. The analyses and global applications within ‘Fanon and group analysis now’ go beyond the question of can group analysis allow outsider ideas in? To ask will group analysis let collectives, cooperatives, and community and activist groups in? and will group analysis let rituals, traditions, belief systems, and spirituality in? These questions are about the extent to which the Institute of Group Analysis will extend its conceptualization of what constitutes an analytic group? In the conclusion, Fanon’s pedagogy of failure is applied to show a paradox — the same group analysts who know that getting it wrong is necessary for therapeutic transformation are among the same group analysts who fear getting it wrong when it comes to decolonizing group analysis. Fanon’s pedagogy of failure is a crucial part of decolonizing. The interventions within ‘Fanon and group analysis now’ provide an unequivocal evidence base for how and why Fanon is needed now for decolonizing group analysis.