Giuseppe Montalbano

ABSTRACT

As many commentators highlighted, a distinguishing feature of Arrighi’s notion of hegemony lays in its Gramscian background. However, an in-depth analysis of the uses and problems of the Gramscian concept of hegemony in the work of Arrighi is still missing. The aim of this contribution is thus to fill this gap, by showing how the interpretation and use of Gramsci’s ideas of hegemony by Arrighi looks far more problematic than himself admitted. The main argument here defended is that the Gramscian definition of hegemony constitutes at the same time a veritable cornerstone and the weakest point in Arrighi’s general theory.

KEYWORDS: Giovanni Arrighi; Gramsci; hegemony; Marxism; capitalism

From: International Critical Thought 2021 11 (1)

Editor: Wang Yi