"Kurt Lewin and Politics"
This talk seeks to illuminate the lesser-known facets of the distinguished psychologist Kurt Zadek Lewin's achievements. Recognized as a significant voice in Gestalt psychology and the pioneer of topological psychology, Lewin's political pursuits have often been overshadowed or misinterpreted. This account offers some spotlights on Lewin’s work, from his early projects in Berlin to his contributions in New York, MIT, and his collaboration with the Tavistock Institute in London. Central to the discussion is the political motivation behind Lewin’s research, emphasizing his philosophy that there is “no action without research, no research without action.” This belief underpins his renowned Action Research methodology, which profoundly impacted participatory research and critical organizational development. However, a peculiar division has emerged in scholarly discourse, where Lewin's psychological theories and his action research are treated as separate entities, almost as if representing two distinct versions of Lewin. This talk challenges such a bifurcated view. An exploration of Lewin's methodology reveals a strong connection between his methodology and political endeavors. The talk posits that understanding Lewin’s concept of generalization reveals an approach to social science research as inherently political. By bridging Lewin’s psychological theories with his reflections on the philosophy of science and his work in action research, the political essence interwoven throughout his oeuvre comes to the fore.