THE CONTEXT

When the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, stated in 1917 that “the ego is not the master in its own house,”  he proposed that the conscious self (ego) is not in full control of the mind, as illustrated by dreams, jokes, Freudian slips. Also, that biological drives may force out reason.

Instead of omnipotence, Freud argued that the human mind is in a state of incompleteness – a non-static state which allows us to welcome new ideas.

We operate in a world experiencing rapid technological transformation (e.g. AI, robotics), a surge of geopolitical tension, radical societal polarization and in some regions, war. These developments can make it difficult to think coherently, leading to evasion and resignation on the one hand or rigidity and rage on the other.

What psychic conflict is going on? Who or what is in control? Where are leaders wrestling with inner drives over logical thinking at work? How are the notions of omnipotence or incompleteness playing out in organisations, nations or on the world stage? And what about within ourselves as practitioners?

Call for Papers

The Vienna committee invites you to be creative. To explore the theme of fantasies of omnipotence and incompleteness in organisations and leadership. Of drives. Of subconsious ‘mistakes’. Of connection with the conference location.

We hope you will engage, excite and energise the room.

You don’t have to use Powerpoint slides! You can ask people to stand up, move, look at a picture, an object, work through an idea together. We hope participants will learn from what you bring, but that you’ll also learn from their responses. An integration!

Your proposal

You don’t need to submit a complete paper/proposal at this stage. But you do need to plan one carefully and convincingly.

Please share a considered outline. You don’t have to answer every question below…but here are a few things to think about to help you decide what to focus on.

Remember we want to stimulate new thinking not merely repeat previous thinking/published works.

 
Think about 

• What is omnipotence? What fantasies do we have around this?
• What is incompleteness? What fears or anxieties may we hold?
• What is drive & what is ‘reason’?
• How do these psychoanalytic concepts connect with leadership and the world of work – or, the world in general right now?
• How can these emotions be contained…or indeed, should they be contained?
• What is your question?
• Or what task do you want help with and why?
• Which conference theme does it address? Omnipotence, incompleteness, drive?
• What new idea are you bringing?
• What will it contribute to the field of psychoanalysis and/or leadership or organisations
• What outcome do you want from sharing your thinking on this topic?
• How might your thinking connect with or be influenced by a sense of place e.g. Vienna or somewhere else?
• What do you hope to complete with this presentation? What leaves you feeling omnipotent or the opposite!
• What have you struggled with in preparing this talk?
• What did you notice happening inside you as you started preparing your proposal?
• What might you be projecting…?

Format

• How would you like to present your paper or work ? E.g. a traditional lecture, a discussion panel, working with an image or an object?
• Remember, that less is more. You do not need to speak for a long time in order to create an interesting presentation or discussion.
• Would you like to be the sole speaker? Or would you enjoy working in partnership with one or more other people?
• Or would you like someone to interview you about an aspect of the conference theme – omnipotence, drives, incompleteness, integration – to create a conversation rather than a top-down lecture?
• Sometimes people have something valuable to bring or that they are struggling with. Creating a paper or a discussion at meetings can be the start of a contribution to an academic journal or even become a book.

Psychoanalytic jargon

Let’s express what we mean in simple, everyday language. Let’s not hide behind technical jargon when we know we or others may not fully understand it…   If a small word will do, don’t use a big one!

Selection criteria

-       Relationship to the theme
-       Systems/organisational psychoanalytic / socioanalytic content
-       Originality of thought
-       Scholarly orientation
-       Practical examples – successes and failures in the real world
-       Applied learning – how can your thinking help a leader or an organisation become better?

SUBMISSION & Deadlines

The deadline for submission of your idea is 15 Septemeber 2026
We will decide by 15 October 2026

You will then have time to expand and shape your paper, with the support of an ISPSO moderator who’ll introduce themselves to you a few weeks before the conference.

For those presenting in Vienna, a moderator will speak to you some weeks before the conference as you prepare. At the conference, they will introduce your paper, support you as people ask questions and they will conclude your session to time.