An Introduction to Antonio Gramsci

Nearly 90 years after his death, Antonio Gramsci’s ideas remain as vital as ever. This second edition of An Introduction to Antonio Gramsci is a wonderful, highly readable, resource for understanding the life, thought and legacies of Gramsci. Beginners and experts alike will find valuable insights in its pages. * Shahar Hameiri, Professor of International Politics, University of Queensland, Australia *The best introduction to Gramsci just got better. Ideal for anyone who seeks not just to understand Gramsci’s life, thought, and intellectual legacy, but who wants to apply his ideas to understand our contemporary world. Highly recommended for scholars and students alike. * Lee Jones, Professor of Political Economy and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London, UK *Hoare and Sperber’s second edition of their An Introduction to Antonio Gramsci is a valuable book for both ‘new’ and ‘old’ readers of Gramsci, insofar as it combines clear explanations of the main points of the thought of the Sardinian with an updated overview of the Gramsci scholarship. * Francesca Antonini, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy *In refreshingly readable, lucid and penetrating prose, Hoare and Sperber explain the renewed relevance and urgency of reading Gramsci for understanding what’s at stake in the current conjuncture. This is more than just an introduction; it sets out an exciting new agenda for approaching Gramsci’s thought – whether for the first time or as a seasoned reader – and shows us how distinctively Gramscian ideas – from hegemony to common sense – can help us make sense of the political past and present. * Matthew Thompson, Lecturer in Urban Studies, Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK *Hoare and Sperber offer an appreciative and comprehensive journey through Gramsci’s broad-ranging writings. With a lightness of touch and an eye to both his and our lived political situation, An Introduction curates Gramsci’s writings into clear and accessible themes that enable Gramsci to speak to us about democracy, culture, ideas, strategy, and the possibilities for the future. * Graham Harrison, Durham University, UK *This is an excellent introduction to Gramsci’s thought, political activity, and ever-growing relevance to political theory. The book stands out for its clarity and meticulous use of sources. It rightly stresses Gramsci’s lifelong commitment to active Marxist politics and considers his contemporary relevance from that standpoint. * Costas Lapavitsas, Professor of Economics, University of London, UK *

George Hoare is an independent researcher and co-host of the Bungacast podcast. His books include The End of the End of History: Politics in the Twenty-First Century (2021; with Alex Hochuli and Philip Cunliffe) and Taking Control: Sovereignty and Democracy after Brexit (2023; with Philip Cunliffe, Lee Jones, and Peter Ramsay).

Nathan Sperber is a sociologist based in Paris and an associate of the European Center of Sociology and Political Science of the Sorbonne (CESSP), France.