Antonio Gramsci: (Critical Explorations in Contemporary Political Thought)

Antonio Gramsci remains one of the most influential political thinkers of the early twentieth century. Arrested and imprisoned by the Italian Fascist regime for his socialist activities in 1926, in the solitary and debilitating conditions of Mussolini's jail he penned one of the most startling works of social and political theory - the Prison Notebooks (1929-1935) - that continues to challenge, intrigue and inspire its readers to this day. This book brings together some of the world's leading scholars on Gramsci to provide an engaging and accessible account of the main ideas, themes and debates in his writings, and to critically explore their relevance for contemporary social and political theory. Among the key themes examined in the book are Gramsci's very influential accounts of state formation, hegemony and ideology, which are explored in relation to contemporary Marxism, the liberal tradition, democratic theory, subaltern studies and post-Marxism.

Table of Contents:
Contents Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements Introduction: The Life Of A Reflective Revolutionary; Mark Mcnally PART I: HISTORICAL CONTEXT 1. Gramsci, The United Front Comintern And Democratic Strategy; Mark Mcnally 2. Morbid Symptoms: Gramsci And The Crisis Of Liberalism; James Martin PART II: KEY DEBATES 3. Intellectuals And Masses: Agency And Knowledge In Gramsci; Benedetto Fontana 4. Gramsci, Language And Pluralism; Alessandro Carlucci PART III: MAJOR CONCEPTUAL ISSUES 5: Gramsci's Marxism: The 'Philosophy Of Praxis'; Peter Thomas 6. Conceptions Of Subalternity In Gramsci; Guido Liguori PART IV: CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE 7. Gramsci And 'The International': Past, Present And Future; Andreas Bieler, Ian Bruff And Adam David Morton 8. Gramsci And Subaltern Struggles Today: Spontaneity, Political Organization, And Occupy Wall Street; Marcus Green 9. The Historical Bloc: Toward A Typology Of Weak States And Contemporary Legitimation Crises; Darrow Schecter 10. Gramsci, Hegemony, And Post-Marxism; David Howarth Conclusion: Contemporary Themes; Mark Mcnally Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Mark McNally is Lecturer in Politics at the University of the West of Scotland, UK. His research interests are in the history of political thought, democratic theory, ideology, and ideological and political conflict in Twentieth Century Ireland. He is co-editor of Gramsci and Global Politics (2009) and has published widely on the nature and application of Gramsci's ideas.

Review :
'This volume could have been subtitled 'Resolving the Gramsci Paradox.' How is it that a political activist and thinker so deeply concerned with the specific crises of his turbulent times has remained such a fertile source of ideas and insights for theorists and critics addressing the most pressing social, political and cultural issues of the twenty-first century? The essays in this volume are distinctive for simultaneously bringing Gramsci's continuing relevance into bold relief while greatly enriching our understanding of the theoretical core of his perdurable writings.' - Professor Joseph Buttigieg, University of Notre Dame, USA 'In this most welcome book - a well-timed response to the crisis of neo-liberal hegemony - Gramsci's legacy is inventoried through accurate scholarship and creatively revived with deep political commitment. A brilliant challenge to the trivialization of revolutionary thought and an invitation to critically rethink the history of Marxism beyond slogans.' - Dr Fabio Frosini, Universita di Urbino, Italy 'This wide-ranging, coherent and critically engaged collection on the interwoven nature of Gramsci's theoretical and political life as a revolutionary provides exciting and provocative insights into many aspects of Gramsci's work, undermining taken-for-granted readings and showing that he is a thinker situated in his times with an ever-present contemporary relevance.' - Professor Bob Jessop, University of Lancaster, UK