‘A Crocean Critique of Gramsci on Historicism, Hegemony and Intellectuals’
Journal of Modern Italian Studies, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 209-229, 2001
32 Pages Posted: 5 Jan 2010 Last revised: 12 Sep 2010
Date Written: January 3, 2010
Abstract
Although Gramsci’s debt to Croce is well known, most commentators simply accept his criticisms of Croce and his claim to have overcome certain lacunae in the Neapolitan’s thought. This article argues that many of these criticisms misfire, and mounts a Crocean critique of Gramsci. Through a comparison of their respective views of historicism, hegemony and intellectuals, it is argued that the radical democratic and libertarian theory many post-Marxists claim to find in the Sardinian is more appropriately associated with Croce.
Keywords: Croce, Gramsci, historicism, hegemony, intellectuals, liberalism, Marxism
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