Pan Xihua: An Analysis of Gramsci's Socialist Thought in the Context of the Era

This book is the final research output of the General Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, "An Age-Based Analysis of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought" (18BKS049), presided over by Pan Xihua. Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) was a founder and early leader of the Communist Party of Italy, an activist in the international communist movement, a great communist fighter, and the most influential theorist of the Western proletarian revolutionary movement. Taking Gramsci’s socialist thought as its object of study and adopting a historical research perspective, this study traces the logical starting point of his socialist thought (its theoretical origins and practical foundations), systematically elucidates the rich connotations of his socialist thought (its core concepts, his exploration of Italy’s path toward socialism, and his conception of the embryonic form of a future socialist state), traces its international influence, and offers an objective evaluation of its historical status and contemporary inspirations. On this basis, the study distinguishes the correct path from the deviations in the study of Gramsci’s socialist thought, introducing new research methods and paradigms for continuing Gramsci’s "unfinished" political reflections.

A systematic clarification and in-depth study of the contemporary value of Gramsci’s socialist thought helps us grasp its essence within the broad horizon of the international communist movement. It assists us in fully retracing the profound influence of Gramsci’s socialist thought on the socialist movements led by Communist and Workers' parties in 20th-century Western European countries. Furthermore, against the contemporary background of the accelerated evolution of changes unseen in a century ^[1], it helps in correctly predicting and grasping new trends in proletarian international solidarity and in correctly understanding the diversified state of the world socialist movement since the 21st century. As the saying goes, "stones from other hills may serve to polish one’s own jade" ^[2]. Gramsci’s independent exploration of Italy’s path toward socialism during the Comintern period resonates to some extent with the Chinese-path modernization successfully forged by the Communist Party of China through a century of independent exploration leading the Chinese people. It is also of benefit to our continued advancement of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism in the New Era, and to our efforts to better uphold and develop the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

About the Author

Pan Xihua (female, native of Jinan, Shandong) is the Director of the Department of the History of the International Communist Movement within the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). She is an Associate Researcher, a Master’s supervisor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and holds a PhD in Philosophy. Her primary research fields include scientific socialism and the international communist movement, the history of the development of Marxism, and Western Marxism, with a particular expertise in Gramsci’s thought. She has presided over and completed one General Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, participated as a sub-project leader in one Major Project of the National Social Science Fund and six Innovation Projects of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and has published two monographs, co-authored three books, and published dozens of articles in core journals.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Why Gramsci Remains Forever New I. Origin of the problem and significance of the research II. Current status of research on Gramsci’s thought in domestic and foreign theoretical circles III. Common problems and new trends facing domestic and foreign research on Gramsci’s thought IV. Basic content and innovations in the study of Gramsci’s socialist thought

Chapter 1: The Logical Starting Point of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought I. The theoretical origins of Gramsci’s socialist thought (i) Theoretical nourishment from the Marxist-Leninist tradition (ii) Gramsci’s critical inheritance of the Italian Marxist theoretical tradition (iii) Gramsci’s critical borrowing from Sorel’s "Revolutionary Syndicalism" II. The practical foundations of Gramsci’s socialist thought (i) Reflections on the historical specificity of Italy (ii) Summation of lessons from the successive failures of European revolutionary movements after the October Revolution (iii) Gramsci’s early revolutionary practice leading the Communist Party of Italy and the workers' movement

Chapter 2: The Rich Connotations of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought I. Core concepts of Gramsci’s socialist thought (i) The "Integral" State (ii) Egemonia (Hegemony) (iii) "Consent" (iv) The "Modern Prince" II. Gramsci’s exploration of Italy’s path toward socialism (i) The idea of cultural hegemony (ii) The revolutionary strategy of "War of Position" III. Gramsci’s conception of the embryonic form of a future socialist state (i) "Organic" society (ii) The "Organic" proletarian party (iii) "Organic" worker-peasant autonomy (iv) "Organic" democratic centralism (v) "Organic" intellectuals

Chapter 3: The International Influence of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought I. Historical influence in the history of the international communist movement II. Influence on contemporary capitalist social movements and trends of thought

Chapter 4: Historical Evaluation and Contemporary Inspirations of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought I. Historical evaluation of Gramsci’s socialist thought II. Contemporary inspirations of Gramsci’s socialist thought (i) Actively promoting theoretical innovation based on the localization of Marxism (ii) Independently exploring and constructing a path toward socialist modernization (iii) Actively exploring new ways to promote proletarian international solidarity (iv) Cultural reflections on upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics

Conclusion: Gramsci Advancing with the Times I. Gramsci’s "Unfinished Political Reflections" II. Questions awaiting research and proper principles for studying Gramsci’s socialist thought (i) Questions awaiting research in Gramsci’s socialist thought (ii) The "Four Distinctions" principle to be grasped in the study of Gramsci’s socialist thought

Appendix: Chronology of Gramsci’s Life Bibliography Postscript