Why Hierarchy Won't Go Away: Understanding the Limits of 'Horizontalism'

9 Pages Posted: 26 May 2012

See all articles by Jonathan S. Davies

Jonathan S. Davies

De Montfort University; Centre for Urban Research on Austerity

Date Written: May 25, 2012

Abstract

This short paper was produced as a Research Briefing for Leicester Business School in May 2012. It explores the rise of 'horizontalism' as a hegemonic world view and then discusses its limits, applying Gramsci's theory of the integral state. The paper suggests that the concept of a 'governance genome' maybe helpful for understanding how governing institutions embody multiple modes of coordination in many variable configurations, simultaneously hierarchy, market and network. It concludes that the resistance movements influenced by horizontalism should not feel threatened by hierarchy. The concept can be wrongly conflated with domination, and an element of hierarchy is the pre-condition of effective solidarity and democratic accountability.

Keywords: governance, genome, horizontalism, hierarchy, Gramsci, resistance

Suggested Citation

Davies, Jonathan S. and Davies, Jonathan S., Why Hierarchy Won't Go Away: Understanding the Limits of 'Horizontalism' (May 25, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2066812 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2066812

Jonathan S. Davies (Contact Author)

Centre for Urban Research on Austerity ( email )

The Gateway
Leicester, LE1 9BH
United Kingdom

De Montfort University ( email )

Hugh Aston Building
The Gateway
Leicester, East Midlands LE1 9BH
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/professor-jonathan-davies

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