TY - JOUR

T1 - Gramsci as a Spatial Theorist.

AU - Jessop, Bob

N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 8 (4), 2005, © Informa Plc

PY - 2005/12

Y1 - 2005/12

N2 - Antonio Gramsci�s philosophy of praxis is characterised by the spatialisation as well as historicisation of its analytical categories. These theoretical practices are deeply intertwined in his �absolute historicism�. Highlighting the spatiality of Gramsci�s analysis not only enables us to recover the many geographical themes in his work but also provides a useful counterweight to the emphasis on the historical dimensions of his historicism. In addition to obvious references to Gramsci�s use of spatial metaphors and his discussion of the Southern Question, it is shown that many of his key concepts are best interpreted from a spatio-temporal as well as social and material perspective. After introducing the concepts of space, place and scale, the essay shows that all three are relevant to Gramsci�s analyses of issues such as language, the historical significance of the Catholic Church, the role of intellectuals, cosmopolitanism, class and class struggle, Americanism and Fordism, the nature of the Italian state, the social bases of state power, Jacobinism, passive revolution and hegemony. The essay concludes that Gramsci�s interest in place, space and scale was not merely academic but had to do with his analysis of revolutionary conjunctures.

AB - Antonio Gramsci�s philosophy of praxis is characterised by the spatialisation as well as historicisation of its analytical categories. These theoretical practices are deeply intertwined in his �absolute historicism�. Highlighting the spatiality of Gramsci�s analysis not only enables us to recover the many geographical themes in his work but also provides a useful counterweight to the emphasis on the historical dimensions of his historicism. In addition to obvious references to Gramsci�s use of spatial metaphors and his discussion of the Southern Question, it is shown that many of his key concepts are best interpreted from a spatio-temporal as well as social and material perspective. After introducing the concepts of space, place and scale, the essay shows that all three are relevant to Gramsci�s analyses of issues such as language, the historical significance of the Catholic Church, the role of intellectuals, cosmopolitanism, class and class struggle, Americanism and Fordism, the nature of the Italian state, the social bases of state power, Jacobinism, passive revolution and hegemony. The essay concludes that Gramsci�s interest in place, space and scale was not merely academic but had to do with his analysis of revolutionary conjunctures.

KW - Gramsci

KW - space

KW - place

KW - scale

KW - absolute historicism

KW - International Relations

KW - state power

U2 - 10.1080/13698230500204931

DO - 10.1080/13698230500204931

M3 - Journal article

VL - 8

SP - 421

EP - 437

JO - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

JF - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

SN - 1369-8230

IS - 4

ER -