Language And Hegemony In Gramsci

Language and Hegemony in Gramsci introduces Gramsci's social and political thought through his writings on language. It shows how his focus on language illuminates his central ideas such as hegemony, organic and traditional intellectuals, passive revolution, civil society and subalternity. Peter Ives explores Gramsci's concern with language from his university studies in linguistics to his last prison notebook. Hegemony has been seen as Gramsci's most important contribution, but without knowledge of its linguistic roots, it is often misunderstood.

This book places Gramsci's ideas within the linguistically influenced social theory of the twentieth century. It summarizes some of the major ideas of Ferdinand de Saussure, Ludwig Wittgenstein, language philosophy and post-structuralism in relation to Gramsci's position. By paying great attention to the linguistic underpinnings of Gramsci's Marxism, Language and Hegemony in Gramsci shows how his theorization of power, language and politics address issues raised by post-modernism and the work of Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Chantal Mouffe, and Ernesto Laclau.

This book demonstrates the continued political and theoretical relevance of Gramsci's writing on language.

Introduction 1. Language And Social Theory: The Many Linguistic Turns 2. Linguistics And Politics In Gramsci's Italy 3. Language And Hegemony In The Prison Notebooks 4. Gramsci's Key Concepts With Linguistic Enrichment 5. Postmodernism, New Social Movements And Globalization: Implications For Social And Political Theory Bibliography index