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Psychoanalysis provides valuable insights into the unconscious forces that shape power dynamics, guiding leaders to avoid the pitfalls of narcissism and corruption while fostering governance rooted in integrity and the common good. By revealing the underlying forces shaping leaders' relationship with authority, it lays the foundation for an ethical framework centered on accountability and a deep respect for the public interest.
At the heart of psychoanalytic theory on power lies the central issue of narcissism. Leaders who feel intrinsically inadequate or inferior often seek to overcompensate by exerting excessive control over their surroundings. This compulsive need for dominance can push them to overstep their authority, elevating themselves above common laws. To address this, they must relinquish a childlike sense of omnipotence and align themselves with a higher order that transcends personal interests. In practice, this means adhering strictly to the principle of separation of powers, rejecting undue privileges and submitting to democratic oversight. Only then can political hubris be restrained, allowing power to be wielded with greater restraint and responsibility.
This issue is particularly critical in our country, where authoritarian excesses and abuses of power have often been fueled by the sectarian system and the excessive concentration of power in the hands of a small group of wrongdoers. By embracing humility, fostering discernment and cultivating a sense of balance, leaders can strive for a more equitable distribution of responsibilities and the establishment of a genuine rule of law, ensuring equal treatment under the law for all.
This ethical imperative also requires resisting the temptation of moral absolutism and ideological certainty. The complexity of reality calls for modesty and openness to dialogue, far removed from the image of the omniscient, infallible leader. It is by confronting uncertainty and embracing otherness that leaders can cultivate a more mature and inclusive style of leadership.
Another pitfall for those in power is the trap of imaginary identifications that tether them to a distorted and alienating relationship with their supporters. Driven by fantasies about a grand mission, they become ensnared by an idealized self-image, which diverts them from their true role as guides and regulators of collective life. This phenomenon of imaginary entrapment is particularly acute in Lebanon, where sectarian allegiances frequently supplant a shared national identity. Each leader positions themselves as the champion of their faction’s aspirations, locked in a cycle of mimetic rivalry with other groups. This passionate and divisive dynamic hinders the development of a sense of national unity that transcends narrow sectarian divides.
Breaking this cycle requires leaders to embrace a conception of authority, not as a tool for personal glorification, but as a responsibility tied to the office they hold — one grounded in universal principles rather than tribal allegiances. Leaders have a crucial role to play in overcoming destructive identifications and nurturing a more mature civil society, unified by a shared vision for the future and a steadfast commitment to the common good.
These “new” leaders must acknowledge the denial mechanisms that drive them to engage in corrupt actions while projecting an inflated sense of self. In a perverted system, where personal enrichment is not only trivialized but even valued, transgressions are facilitated by a fragmented sense of self that fosters the illusion of integrity. This is particularly concerning in Lebanon, where the culture of impunity and the absence of checks and balances have fostered abuses and undue privileges. To counter this, leaders must cultivate a deep-self-awareness of their own blind spots and commit to a rigorous ethical discipline. They must surround themselves with trustworthy collaborators and remain open to critical external scrutiny.
Equally essential is the strengthening of institutional and legal frameworks to effectively combat corruption. This includes ensuring the independence and competence of the judiciary, promoting transparency in public affairs, and safeguarding the freedom and pluralism of the press. Only through a strong and systematic commitment in these areas can citizens’ trust be restored and the legitimacy of leaders reinforced. A thorough and sustained effort in prevention and education is also essential to foster a genuine culture of integrity across all societal levels. By exemplifying moral rectitude in their own conduct, leaders can spearhead a profound renewal of public morals and the principle of selfless service to the state.
S. Freud also draws attention to the concept of “the narcissism of small differences,” where the defense of particular interests is elevated to an absolute. In Lebanon, these divisive forces are exacerbated by the sectarian system and clientelist networks that have infiltrated the institutions and hindered the emergence of a common-good logic. By rising above partisan conflicts and resolutely embodying the public good, while transcending communal divides, leaders must break free from feudal reflexes and advocate for a demanding and inclusive conception of national identity — one that guarantees unity while respecting diversity. Achieving this requires a fundamental restructuring of the governance system, rethinking power distribution, electoral processes, administrative functions and the management of strategic resources. This overhaul must be driven by a national dialogue and a clear shared vision for society. Only such an institutional transformation can profoundly reshape political practices and unleash the country’s creative energies.
Governing also entails embracing a mission of justice. Beyond narrow legalism and proceduralism, it involves embodying an impartial and sovereigntist framework that guides collective life and arbitrates conflicts based on higher principles — those of citizens’ rights and duties, equity and human dignity. This high ethical imperative is particularly crucial in a country marked by corruption, where state institutions are undermined by political interference and partisan allegiance. Restoring their credibility and effectiveness requires placing competent and trustworthy individuals in key positions, ensuring their statutory and financial independence, and imposing severe penalties for breaches of ethics. Justice also demands political courage, particularly when making difficult arbitrations under the pressure of lobbies and vested interests, even at the cost of unpopularity. Assuming this thankless responsibility requires unwavering personal ethics, a steadfast determination to serve the law and uphold equity, without succumbing to conformity or blind obedience.
The exercise of power inevitably exposes individuals to the temptation of exerting control over others, often resulting in an asymmetrical and alienating relationship. As psychoanalyst Marie-France Hirigoyen explains, a charismatic leader may be tempted to exploit their aura and charisma to foster irrational adherence, demanding unconditional submission from those around them, thus falling into narcissistic perversion.
In our context, such political subservience has sometimes thrived within a paternalistic communal culture, with local leaders vying for exclusive control over their constituencies. To resist these toxic tendencies, leaders must cultivate a scrupulous respect for otherness and fundamental freedoms, rejecting any form of coercion or manipulation. This requires the resolute promotion of a culture of rational deliberation and pluralistic debate by valuing the expression of divergence and embracing constructive contradiction. Leaders must work to build a dynamic, inclusive public space, where every voice is heard and contributes to shaping collective decisions.
The specter of megalomania often haunts those in power when a sense of exceptionality devolves into delusions of grandeur and persecution. The euphoria of power can drive individuals to see themselves as above the law or, worse, spiral into paranoid madness. Combating these dangers requires vigilant oversight, reinforced by strong institutional safeguards such as term limits and democratic accountability.
Lebanese leaders must internalize the precarious and temporary nature of their roles, approaching their responsibilities with humility and a genuine spirit of service. As temporary stewards of public authority, they are called to embody detachment, sobriety and realism, resisting any temptation to appropriate or excessively personalize power.
Furthermore, Lacanian theory teaches us that speech, when it conveys subjective truth, can have a structuring force that holds the speaker accountable. Yet, political discourse too often devolves into theatrics, manipulation and deceit, spiraling into demagoguery that erodes trust and fuels populism. To counter this, Lebanese leaders must urgently restore the dignity of political communication — delivering on their promises, acknowledging their mistakes and addressing the complexities of reality.
Public trust depends on this — a trust that can only thrive through genuine and respectful dialogue, free from pretense and hidden agendas.
This requirement for truth must encompass the nation’s relationship with history and collective memory. In Lebanon, the weight of unspoken truths and suppressed grievances continues to hinder progress, preventing a serene envisioning of the future. A lucid reckoning with the dark chapters of the past — acknowledging both the suffering endured and the shared responsibilities — is essential for rebuilding peaceful coexistence, unburdened by resentment or denial.
Leaders have a moral duty to spearhead and sustain this cathartic process by fostering a culture of transparency, accountability and open dialogue about the collective memory. Through patient and courageous leadership, it is their responsibility to create the conditions for a collective examination of conscience — one that allows wounds to heal and fractured communal bonds to mend. Most importantly, by demonstrating exemplary rhetoric, free from doublespeak and empty rhetoric, leaders can purify and elevate their public discourse. By aligning their words with integrity, actions with coherence and posture with nobility, they have the power to lead the country toward an ethic of demanding, productive dialogue.
As Lebanon grapples with multifaceted crises, geopolitical tensions and the aspirations of its people, the nation’s survival as a viable, civilized and sovereigntist state is at stake. Leaders who commit to this “therapeutic and re-educational” process must acknowledge the task’s long, arduous and contested nature, fully aware that it will face destructive forces clinging to regressive behavior. They must rise to the magnitude of their historical responsibility through decisive actions, striving to meet the scale of the challenges by upholding a universalist ethic and embodying an ambitious vision of reform and re-foundation, wholly dedicated to serving the nation’s supreme interests.
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