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School of Psychoanalysis of the Forums of the Lacanian Field

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School of Psychoanalysis of the Forums of the Lacanian Field
Organization details
TypeLacanian psychoanalytic school
Founded2001
Founder(s)Members of the Forums of the Lacanian Field
Key figuresColette Soler
OrientationLacanian
Institutional context
PredecessorForums du champ lacanien
AffiliationInternational of the Forums of the Lacanian Field
Relation to IPAIndependent
Operations
HeadquartersInternational (forums in multiple countries)
Geographic scopeInternational
Training functionCartels, pass, seminars


The School of Psychoanalysis of the Forums of the Lacanian Field (SPLF; French: École de psychanalyse des Forums du champ lacanien) is a Lacanian psychoanalytic institution established in 2001 as part of the International of the Forums of the Lacanian Field (IF-SPLF). It emerged from the Forums du champ lacanien, a group founded in 1999 by former leaders of the École de la Cause freudienne (ECF), and operates through a network of regional forums dedicated to the practice and transmission of Jacques Lacan's teachings.[1][2][3]

The SPLF distinguishes itself in the post-Lacanian landscape by rejecting hierarchical structures in favor of forum-based organization, emphasizing clinical practice, theoretical seminars, and devices such as the cartel and the pass. It maintains independence from major Lacanian associations like the ECF and the World Association of Psychoanalysis (WAP), positioning itself as a decentralized alternative for the global transmission of Lacanian psychoanalysis.[4]

History

Precursors and Origins

The origins of the SPLF trace to the Forums du champ lacanien, founded in May 1999 by three former presidents of the ECF amid internal discord within French Lacanian institutions.[1] This split reflected broader tensions in the Lacanian movement following Lacan's dissolution of the École freudienne de Paris in 1980 and the subsequent formation of the ECF.[1]

The International of the Forums of the Lacanian Field was established in 1998, with the Forum of Athens as a founding member, laying the groundwork for a global network of autonomous forums.[2]

Founding (2001)

In 2001, the International of the Forums formalized the School of the Forums of Psychoanalysis in the Lacanian Field (IF-SFPLF), creating a structured school to coordinate training and transmission across its forums.[3][2] This development responded to the need for institutional devices suited to diverse cultural contexts, building on Lacan's earlier initiatives like the Fondation du Champ freudien (1979).[5]

Growth and Expansion

The school has expanded through regional forums, including the California Forum, Forum of Athens, Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand, and Forum of London, fostering international seminars and clinical collaborations.[6][4][2]

Organizational Structure

The SPLF employs a non-hierarchical model characteristic of Lacanian schools, structured around forums rather than a central authority. It avoids traditional hierarchies, utilizing Lacanian devices like the cartel and grades of authorization (e.g., AME: Analyste Membre de l'École; AE: Analyste de l'École).[1]

Governance

Governance occurs through rotating directorates and juries, with decisions guided by collective orientations rather than permanent leadership. Regional forums maintain autonomy while affiliating with the international school.[3]

Membership Categories

  • Analyst Member of the School (AME): Advanced practitioners authorized within the school's framework.
  • Analyst of the School (AE): Recognized via the pass procedure, signifying completion of formation.[1]

Formation of Analysts

Training in the SPLF emphasizes endless analysis, seminars, supervision, and Lacanian devices like the cartel and pass, coordinated through teaching networks across forums.

Teaching Network

Seminars form the core curriculum, with international series such as the 2026 English-language program launched by the Forum of London, featuring presentations by AMEs like Colette Soler on topics including the analytic act.[4]

Cartels

The school extensively uses the cartel, a small working group of four members plus a "plus-one," proposed by Lacan as an anti-hierarchical educational device for focused theoretical or clinical work.[5]

The Pass

The pass (passe) verifies the end of analysis through testimony presented to passeurs and a jury, leading to AE nomination. Revived from earlier Lacanian experiments, it distinguishes SPLF formation from hierarchical certification.[1]

Key Concepts and Orientation

Aligned strictly with Lacan's return to Freud, the SPLF prioritizes:

These inform its forum structure, promoting subjective freedom over institutional power.[6][4]

Notable Members

  • Colette Soler: Prominent AME, presenter in international seminars on the analytic act.[4]
  • Christian Dunker: Contributor to clinical discussions on Lacanian diagnosis.[6]
  • Regional figures including Bettina Soestwohner and Manar Fawahry (California Forum).[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Template:Cite encyclopedia
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "History". Forum of Athens.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Home". Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "News – November 2025". LacanOnline.com. 2025-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Fondation du Champ Freudien". NoSubject.com.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Diagnosis in the Lacanian Clinic". New Center for Psychoanalysis.
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