Lenin and the Logic of Hegemony

Using Gramsci’s concept of hegemony’ Alan Shandro offers an original interpretation of Lenin’s political practice and theory.

Through a careful textual analysis of the writings of Lenin and his contemporaries, Shandro traces the ways in which Lenin’s political practice and theory led him to the philosophical fact’ of hegemony. This original and groundbreaking investigation demolishes many of caricatures of Lenin’s role as political actor and thinker, and illuminates the underlying parameters of hegemony within the class struggle.

Contents

Acknowledgements

I. A Philosophical Fact: Hegemony in the Class Struggle

II. On the Relation of Theory and Practice: Karl Kautsky and the First Post-Marxist

III. Situating Marxism in Russia: Ambiguous Coordinates

IV. Marxism, Lenin and the Logic of Hegemony: Spontaneity and Consciousness in the Class Struggle

V. Dogmatism and Criticism: Freedom in the Class Struggle

VI. Two Orientations to Hegemony: Mensheviks and Bolsheviks

VII. The Mechanics of Proletarian Hegemony: Solidarity in the Class Struggle

VIII. Imperialism and the Logic of Hegemony: The ‘People’ in the Class Struggle

IX. The Arm of Criticism and the Criticism of Arms: Courage in the Class Struggle

X. A Modern Prince to Discourses of Resistance … and Back?

Appendix I: Karl Kautsky, ‘The Revision of the Austrian Social-Democratic Programme’
Appendix II: Text and Context in the Argument of Lenin’s What Is to Be Done?
Appendix III: Lenin as a Reader of What Is to Be Done?

Bibliography

Index