In 2022, a call for papers was opened in the esteemed journal Frontiers in Psychology. Titled “Power, Discrimination, and Privilege in Individuals and Institutions,” this call attracted submissions from across the globe, culminating in the publication of 20 impactful papers. These contributions are reshaping our understanding of societal power dynamics and their effects on marginalized communities.
Our new “Exploring Power Dynamics and Discrimination” Chacruna series will highlight these 20 papers over the next month and half, and we invite further submissions to this series that explore this theme in the Call for Articles below.
Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines is playing a pivotal role in advancing the dissemination of critical research, such as the compelling articles featured in the Frontiers special issue.
By supporting the review and post-publication accessibility of these papers, Chacruna is actively contributing to the broader understanding of issues surrounding race, power dynamics, and social justice within the realm of psychedelic studies. This dissemination is vital as it fosters informed dialogue, challenges existing paradigms, and catalyzes meaningful change.
Call for Articles: Exploring Power Dynamics and Discrimination
Plant medicines have long been associated with profound healing experiences, yet they also exist within broader societal structures that can perpetuate inequality and marginalization and block access to these therapies.
Chacruna in its mission to educate and ensure access to plant medicines, therefore must also be dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding around the dynamics of power and discrimination within institutes and individuals. It is important to address power dynamics and discrimination specifically within the psychedelic community. Inspired by the recent Frontiers special issue on power and discrimination, edited by Dr. Monnica Williams and Dr. Sonya Faber, both board members of Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, alongside the Director, Dr. Bia Labate, we now invite submissions for short articles that further explore the intersections of power, discrimination, and psychedelics. Join us in continuing this vital conversation and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Prejudices and biases permeate societies, leading to various forms of discrimination and inequities. From structural racism to gender-based barriers, and from economic oppression to systemic colonization, the misuse and imbalance of power lie at the heart of these issues.
This call seeks to shed light on covert or under-examined aspects of power, exploring its effects on individuals and institutions. We encourage submissions that uncover hidden power structures, examine psychological consequences, and propose mechanisms for positive change.
Topics of interest include:
- Exploration of power dynamics within psychedelic therapy sessions and research settings.
- Analysis of how societal power structures influence access to psychedelic-assisted therapy and plant medicines.
- Examination of the role of privilege and marginalization in psychedelic communities and research.
- Investigation into the historical and cultural contexts of power dynamics in indigenous and traditional psychedelic practices.
- Exploration of psychedelic experiences as catalysts for personal and collective empowerment or disempowerment.
- Discussion on the potential of psychedelic therapy to address and dismantle systemic power imbalances and discrimination.
- Exploration of covert institutional power structures and their psychological effects.
- Analysis of individual decision-making influenced by power dynamics.
- Examination of the relationship between power and moral growth.
- Investigation into the construction and administration of policy as a tool for power hoarding.
We welcome original insights, theoretical perspectives, personal reflections, and commentary on these themes. Submissions should be concise and accessible, aiming to stimulate further discussion and scholarship in the field.
Join us in uncovering the complexities of power and discrimination, and in fostering a more equitable and inclusive society.
Submission Guidelines:
- Length: Short articles, approximately 800-2000 words.
- Format: Please submit in Word or PDF format.
- Deadline:
We look forward to your contributions.
Send your proposals and articles to [email protected].
Please read our Chacruna Chronicles Author Guide and publishing agreement before submitting.
Best regards,
Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines
Art by Karina Alvarez.
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