The Routledge Guidebook To Gramsci's Prison Notebooks (the Routledge Guides To The Great Books)

Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks are one of the most important and original sources of modern political philosophy but the Prison Notebooks present great difficulties to the reader. Not originally intended for publication, their fragmentary character and their often cryptic language can mystify readers, leading to misinterpretation of the text. __The Routledge Guidebook to Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks__ provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic text. This guidebook: * Explains the arguments presented by Gramsci in a clear and straightforward way, analysing the key concepts of the notebooks. * Situates Gramsci’s ideas in the context of his own time, and in the history of political thought demonstrating the innovation and originality of the Prison Notebooks. * Provides critique and analysis of Gramsci’s conceptualisation of politics and history (and culture in general), with reference to contemporary (i.e. present-day) examples where relevant. * Examines the relevance of Gramsci in the modern world and discusses why his ideas have such resonance in academic discourse Featuring historical and political examples to illustrate Gramsci's arguments, along with suggestions for further reading, this is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to engage more fully with The Prison Notebooks Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Series editor’s preface 9 Preface 11 References to Gramsci’s own works 14 1. Gramsci before the Prison Notebooks 16 The early Gramsci 20 Suggestions for further reading 43 2. The Nature and genesis of Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks 45 Key themes and originality of the Prison Notebooks 45 Nature and writing of the Prison Notebooks 54 Suggestions for further reading 81 3. Intellectuals and education 83 The problem of intellectuals 83 Defining the intellectual 87 Organic intellectuals and the political party 96 On education 104 Suggestions for further reading 109 4. History and modernity 111 The Risorgimento: hegemony and subalternity 113 Passive revolution 119 From Risorgimento to fascism, and beyond 125 History and modernity 130 Americanism and Fordism 138 Socialism and modernity 142 Fordism in communism and fascism 148 Gramsci as a theorist of modernity 158 Suggestions for further reading 164 5. Politics, state and civil society 165 Interpreting Machiavelli 169 The autonomy of the political: against economic determinism 174 The political party as the modern Prince 182 Rulers and ruled: leadership and the masses 189 Caesarism and the crisis of the state 196 Concepts of the state 204 The sphere of civil society 214 War of position 220 Suggestions for further reading 227 6. Philosophy and Marxism 229 The philosophy of praxis 229 What is philosophy? 233 Marxism as popular philosophy 237 Historicism 241 Base, superstructure, historical bloc 248 The critique of Croce 257 Immanence and transcendence 270 Critical evaluation 276 Suggestions for further reading 280 7. The afterlife and influence of Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks 281 Gramsci and post-war Italy 283 National and global: debates outside Italy 293 Gramsci and the analysis of Thatcherism 300 Conclusion: the Prison Notebooks today 304 Suggestions for further reading 308 Bibliography 309 Index 317 Gramsci's Prison Notebooks Are One Of The Most Important And Original Sources Of Modern Political Philosophy But The Prison Notebooks Present Great Difficulties To The Reader. Not Originally Intended For Publication, Their Fragmentary Character And Their Often Cryptic Language Can Mystify Readers, Leading To Misinterpretation Of The Text. The Routledge Guidebook To Gramsci's Prison Notebooks Provides Readers With The Historical Background, Textual Analysis And Other Relevant Information Needed For A Greater Understanding And Appreciation Of This Classic Text. This Guidebook: - Explains The Arguments Presented By Gramsci In A Clear And Straightforward Way, Analysing The Key Concepts Of The Notebooks. - Situates Gramsci's Ideas In The Context Of His Own Time, And In The History Of Political Thought Demonstrating The Innovation And Originality Of The Prison Notebooks. - Provides Critique And Analysis Of Gramsci's Conceptualisation Of Politics And History (and Culture In General), With Reference To Contemporary (i.e. Present-day) Examples Where Relevant. - Examines The Relevance Of Gramsci In The Modern World And Discusses Why His Ideas Have Such Resonance In Academic Discourse Featuring Historical And Political Examples To Illustrate Gramsci's Arguments, Along With Suggestions For Further Reading, This Is An Invaluable Guide For Anyone Who Wants To Engage More Fully With The Prison Notebooks-- Gramsci Before The Prison Notebooks -- The Nature And Genesis Of Gramsci's Prison Notebooks -- Intellectuals And Education -- History And Modernity -- Politics, State And Civil Society -- Philosophy And Marxism -- The Afterlife And Influence Of Gramsci's Prison Notebooks. John Schwarzmantel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Gramsci's Prison Notebooks are one of the most important and original sources of modern political philosophy but the Prison Notebooks present great difficulties to the reader. Not originally intended for publication, their fragmentary character and their often cryptic language can mystify readers, leading to misinterpretation of the text. The Routledge Guidebook to Gramsci's Prison Notebooks provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic text. This guidebook: - Explains the arguments presented by Gramsci in a clear and straightforward way, analysing the key concepts of the notebooks. - Situates Gramsci's ideas in the context of his own time, and in the history of political thought demonstrating the innovation and originality of the Prison Notebooks. - Provides critique and analysis of Gramsci's conceptualisation of politics and history (and culture in general), with reference to contemporary (i.e. present-day) examples where relevant. - Examines the relevance of Gramsci in the modern world and discusses why his ideas have such resonance in academic discourse Featuring historical and political examples to illustrate Gramsci's arguments, along with suggestions for further reading, this is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to engage more fully with The Prison Notebooks"-- Provided by publisher "Gramsci's Prison Notebooks are one of the most important and original sources of modern political philosophy but the Prison Notebooks present great difficulties to the reader. Not originally intended for publication, their fragmentary character and their often cryptic language can mystify readers, leading to misinterpretation of the text. The Routledge Guidebook to Gramsci's Prison Notebooks provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic text. This guidebook: - Explains the arguments presented by Gramsci in a clear and straightforward way, analysing the key concepts of the notebooks. - Situates Gramsci's ideas in the context of his own time, and in the history of political thought demonstrating the innovation and originality of the Prison Notebooks. - Provides critique and analysis of Gramsci's conceptualisation of politics and history (and culture in general), with reference to contemporary (i.e. present-day) examples where relevant. - Examines the relevance of Gramsci in the modern world and discusses why his ideas have such resonance in academic discourse Featuring historical and political examples to illustrate Gramsci's arguments, along with suggestions for further reading, this is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to engage more fully with The Prison Notebooks"--4e de couverture