Pan Xihua: "A Contemporary Analysis of Gramsci's Socialist Thought"
This book is the final research outcome of the National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC) [1] general project, "An Interpretive Analysis of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought for Our Times" (Grant No. 18BKS049), presided over by Pan Xihua. Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) was one of the founders and early leaders of the Communist Party of Italy, an activist in the international communist movement, a great communist warrior, and the most influential theorist within the Western proletarian revolutionary movement. Taking Gramsci’s socialist thought as its research object and adopting a historical research perspective, this study traces the logical starting point (theoretical origins and practical foundations) of Gramsci’s socialist thought; systematically elucidates its rich connotations (its core concepts, the exploration of the Italian path to socialism, and Gramsci’s vision for the embryonic form of a future socialist state); tracks its international influence; and provides an objective evaluation of its historical status and contemporary inspirations. On this basis, the study distinguishes the "correct path" from the "divergent paths" in Gramsci studies, introducing new research methods and paradigms for continuing Gramsci’s "unfinished" political reflections.
A systematic collation and in-depth study of the contemporary value of Gramsci’s socialist thought helps us grasp the essence of his thinking within the broad horizon of the international communist movement. It assists us in comprehensively tracing the profound influence his socialist thought exerted on the movements led by Communist and Workers' parties in 20th-century Western European countries. Against the contemporary background of the accelerating evolution of the "changes unseen in a century" [2], it helps us correctly predict and grasp the new trends in proletarian international solidarity and accurately understand 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" [3]. Gramsci’s independent exploration of an Italian path toward socialism during the Comintern period resonates with the Chinese-path modernization successfully forged by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in leading the Chinese people through a century of independent exploration. It is also of great benefit to our continuous promotion 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), a native of Jinan, Shandong Province, is the Director of the Research Office for the History of the International Communist Movement within the Department of International Communist Movement Studies at the Institute of Marxism Studies, 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. She is primarily engaged in research on scientific socialism, the international communist movement, the history of Marxist development, 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, served as a sub-project leader for one major project of the National Social Science Fund, and participated in six CASS Innovation Program projects. She has published two monographs and co-authored three books, with dozens of articles appearing in core journals.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Why Gramsci Remains Ever-New I. Origin of the Topic and Research Significance (i) Origin of the Topic (ii) Significance of the Research II. Current State of Gramsci Studies in Domestic and Foreign Theoretical Circles (i) Periodization and Controversies in Domestic Gramsci Research (ii) Diversity and Breadth of Foreign Gramsci Research III. Common Problems and New Trends Facing Domestic and Foreign Gramsci Research (i) Common Problems Facing Domestic and Foreign Gramsci Research (ii) New Trends in Domestic and Foreign Gramsci Research over the Last Decade IV. Basic Content and Innovations in the Study of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought (i) Basic Content and Key Research Points of this Book (ii) Innovations of this Book
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 Appropriation of 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 in Leading the Italian Communist Party 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 the Italian Path toward Socialism (i) The Concept of Cultural Hegemony (ii) The Revolutionary Strategy of "War of Position" III. Gramsci’s Vision for the Embryonic Form of a Future Socialist State (i) The "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 on the History of the International Communist Movement (i) Influence on the Adjustment of the Italian Communist Party’s Policies and Line (ii) Influence in Europe (iii) Influence in Latin America (iv) Influence in African Countries and Regions (v) Influence in North America (vi) Influence in Asia and Other Regions II. Influence on Contemporary Capitalist Social Movements and Trends of Thought (i) Influence on Contemporary Capitalist Social Movements (ii) Influence on Contemporary Capitalist Social Trends of Thought
Chapter 4: Historical Evaluation and Contemporary Inspirations of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought I. Historical Evaluation of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought (i) Historical Status and Intellectual Contributions of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought (ii) Theoretical Deficiencies and Practical Limitations 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 to Socialist Modernization (iii) Actively Exploring New Methods for Promoting Proletarian International Solidarity (ii) Cultural Reflections on Upholding and Developing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
Conclusion: Walking with the Times alongside Gramsci I. Gramsci’s "Unfinished Political Reflections" (i) The Incompleteness of the Texts (ii) The Contemporary Vitality of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought II. Pending Issues and Principles to be Upheld in Gramsci Research (i) Issues Remaining to be Studied in Gramsci’s Socialist Thought (ii) The "Four Distinctions" Principle to be Grasped in Gramsci Research
Appendix: Chronology of Gramsci’s Life Bibliography Postscript