Rethinking Gramsci’s Political Philosophy

1998 ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Maurice A. Finocchiaro
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Principle ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Key Points ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Explicit Discussion ◽  
Theory Of Democracy

This paper is a clarification and partial justification of a novel approach to the interpretation of Gramsci. My approach aims to avoid reductionism, intellectualism, and one-sidedness, as well as the traditional practice of conflating his political thought with his active political life. I focus on the political theory of the Prison Notebooks and compare it with that of Gaetano Mosca. I regard Mosca as a classic exponent of democratic elitism, according to which elitism and democracy are not opposed to each other but are rather mutually interdependent. Placing Gramsci in the same tradition, my documentation involves four key points. First, the Notebooks contain an explicit discussion of Mosca's ideas such that when Gramsci objects to a theoretical concept or principle, he often presupposes a common methodological orientation, and when he objects to a particular method or approach, he often presupposes a common theoretical view. Second, Gramsci accepts and gives as much importance to Mosca's fundamental principle that in all societies organized elites rule over the popular masses. Third, Gramsci accepts Mosca's distinctive theory of democracy defined as a relationship betwen elites and masses such that the elites are open to the influx of members from the masses. Finally, there is an emblematic practical political convergence btween the two: in 1925, both opposed a Fascist bill against Freemasonry. Although their rhetoric was different, their speeches exhibit astonishing substantive, conceptual and logical similarties.

The critical theory of democracy in Western political thought

2020 ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Ruqaya Saeed Khalkhal
Keyword(s):  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Democratic Process ◽  
The Social ◽  
Science And Politics ◽  
Political Realities ◽  
The Church ◽  
Theory Of Democracy ◽  
Or Applications ◽  
The Ideal

The darkness that Europe lived in the shadow of the Church obscured the light that was radiating in other parts, and even put forward the idea of democracy by birth, especially that it emerged from the tent of Greek civilization did not mature in later centuries, especially after the clergy and ideological orientation for Protestants and Catholics at the crossroads Political life, but when the Renaissance emerged and the intellectual movement began to interact both at the level of science and politics, the Europeans in democracy found refuge to get rid of the tyranny of the church, and the fruits of the application of democracy began to appear on the surface of most Western societies, which were at the forefront to be doubtful forms of governece.        Democracy, both in theory and in practice, did not always reflect Western political realities, and even since the Greek proposition, it has not lived up to the idealism that was expected to ensure continuity. Even if there is a perception of the success of the democratic process in Western societies, but it was repulsed unable to apply in Islamic societies, because of the social contradiction added to the nature of the ruling regimes, and it is neither scientific nor realistic to convey perceptions or applications that do not conflict only with our civilized reality The political realization created by certain historical circumstances, and then disguises the different reality that produced them for the purpose of resonance in the ideal application.

G.A. Landau on the Twilights of Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 309-314
Author(s):  
Kirill A. Solovyov
Keyword(s):  
First World War ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
World War ◽  
The First World War ◽  
Direct Predecessor ◽  
The Masses ◽  
First World ◽  
European Civilization ◽  
Legal Processes

In the center of the article author’s attention is the book “Twilight of Europe” by G. A. Landau, which is sometimes regarded as direct predecessor of O. Spengler’s works. The article is devoted to G. A. Landau’s views on the nature of political, social, and legal processes in Europe after the First World War. The special attention is paid to the circumstances that Landau believed to be the signs of European civilization ill-being: the collapse of empires, nationalism, and the inclusion of the masses in the political life. Accordingly, the emphasis is placed on Landau’s evaluation of such concepts as “militarism”, “empire”, “nation”, etc.

Electoral system as a motivation to reforming political system- The Iraqi model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamall Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
Political Reform ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Electoral Laws ◽  
The Masses

The flaws and major flaws in the political systems represent one of the main motives that push the political elite towards making fundamental reforms, especially if those reforms have become necessary matters so that: Postponing them or achieving them affects the survival of the system and the political entity. Thus, repair is an internal cumulative process. It is cumulative based on the accumulated experience of the historical experience of the same political elite that decided to carry out reforms, and it is also an internal process because the decision to reform comes from the political elite that run the political process. There is no doubt that one means of political reform is to push the masses towards participation in political life. Changing the electoral system, through electoral laws issued by the legislative establishment, may be the beginning of political reform (or vice versa), taking into account the uncertainty of the political process, especially in societies that suffer from the decline of democratic values, represented by the processes of election from one cycle to another. Based on the foregoing, this paper seeks to analyze the relationship between the Electoral and political system, in particular, tracking and studying the Iraqi experience from the first parliamentary session until the issuance of the Election Law No. (9) for the year (2020).

Theorievorming als machtsfactor : politieke elites en hun legitimatie 1830-1914

Res Publica ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-587
Author(s):  
Luc François
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Church And State ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Literature ◽  
Political Events ◽  
Universal Suffrage ◽  
The Masses ◽  
The Relationship

Theories concerning the origin, the growth and the efficacy of political elites mainly originated after the first world-war. They arose in circles and with people who resented the increasing democratisation of political life. They were above all meant as a legitimation of conservative ideas with regard to the exertion of politica! power. The years between 1830 and 1914 however can be considered as the incubation-period for these elite-theories. Some examples taken from the Belgian political literature shall illustrate this evolution.The liberal middle class got divided on the interpretation of the political events between 1789 and 1848. The doctrinarians wished to maintain the acquired results whereas the radicals chose for a further sharing ofpower with the lower social classes. The conservatives held the past as an example and in principle they wished a return to the situation that existed before 1789. The contrast between clericals and anticlericals and above all the relationship between church and state interfered with these theoretical conceptions. But neither conservatives nor liberals however had their doubts about the elite-principle.In the second half of the nineteenth century the social consequences of the industrial revolution were felt in such a radical way that the masses too claimed political power in order to improve their destiny.On the political scene the discussion especially crystallized on the demand for universal suffrage and the way of representation. Not only political publicists hut towards the end of the century particularly scientists too supplied a theoretical foundation for the relationship between the elite and the masses.

scholarly journals Domination of The Political Strength of Darussalam House in The Village of Gontor Ponorogo

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Rizca Yunike Putri
Keyword(s):  
Boarding School ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Political Dynamics ◽  
Political Events ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
The Masses ◽  
The Village

The reality of modern political life today affects the whole structure of people’s lives. One of the variables in interesting political dynamics is the existence of political actors as the driving force that makes political events more exciting and also interesting to discuss. This is what we know better as the dynamics of the elite and mass relations. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to look at the dynamics of political movements that show the reality of the interaction of elites and masses in villages that have their uniqueness, where usually the elite as the central power, both formal and informal, usually have an influence that is not rational but more traditional affection. By using the field observation method, it was found that cottage Darussalam had a strong dominance. In gontor village, the elite and the masses have a very strong influence. In terms of the elite, in gontor, which is 2/3 of the territory controlled by the modern Darussalam Islamic boarding school, formally and informally - the elite - are still connected and influencing one another.

scholarly journals Central Asian States in the International Rankings of Democracy Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-393
Author(s):  
Elena G. Garbuzarova
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Regimes ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Soviet Legacy ◽  
The Masses

Since gaining independence, Central Asian states declared their commitment to democratization and development of a market economy, building their political systems based on the uncontested Western liberal-democratic model. Leaving behind the Soviet legacy, the political elites of Central Asian states strive to build an effective strategy for national and state development and to form effective democratic institutions. However, after several decades, the political regimes in the countries of the region have become more authoritarian than democratic. In the process of democratic transition, the countries face serious threats in the form of political instability and socio-economic problems. The renaissance of traditional national features made them an integral element of the political life of the sovereign states. The development of democracy in the states of the region is influenced by informal institutions - tribal relations, regionalism and the clan structure of society. In fact, the introduction of the basic elements of democracy into the political process of Central Asian states is formal or declarative, and the participation of the masses in politics is limited. Using various methods and criteria, international democracy development ratings assess the level of democratic development in transition states. Western countries set their own norms and rules for the democratization of transition countries based on the ratings of political transformation. As a result, international ratings are used as a tool for achieving the interests of Western countries that seek to reformat the political regimes of non-democratic countries, regardless of their socio-cultural characteristics. Each Central Asian state has its own features and dynamics/statics of democratic transit, but they are all united by the personification of power and loyalty to the autocrat rather than to the political institutions. The author attempts to trace the current state of the political systems of Central Asian states, highlighting the positive and negative trends in their democratization.

ROLE OF THE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL EDUCATIONAL CENTRES IN THE PEASANT MASSES UNIFICATION ON THE TERRITORY OF KURSK PROVINCE IN 1920–1927s: PECULIARITIES AND FIRST RESULTS

2018 ◽  
pp. 165-172
Author(s):  
Aleksander Yuryevich RYADNYKH
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Political Education ◽  
The Political ◽  
Educational Work ◽  
Soviet Government ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Masses ◽  
The Village

We study one of the most specific forms of work to build political and cultural educational centres in the peasant masses unification. That work was not directly connected with administrative and command methods. We analyze the stages, organization and means for the implementation of the Soviet campaign to strengthen the political education and cultural level centers in the cohesion of the peasant masses held in 1920–1927s. We make a comparison of educational work in the centers of political education with ideological aspects that allows us to trace the dynamics of the Soviet power interaction with the population of the province in the peasant masses formation and consolidation around the Soviet government. We describe the legal formation of the political education centers on the Kursk province territory. During the socialist construction the Council of People’s Commissars adopted a Decree “On cultural and educational work in the village”. The main purpose was to attract as many peasant workers as possible in the country, who were given the right to vote. The young Soviet state needed specialists of the cultural and political education to create a new management structure. In addition, there was a need for qualified personnel in the workplace, who could convey information to the masses. This material explains the basic prerequisites of the cultural and political construction centers, defines the main tasks of the proletariat in the cultural and political education in raising the cultural level of the masses. We consider the role of the mass political work centers in improving the activity of political education, which contributed to the governance of the state, introducing to the political life of the country in addressing the most important social issues of the village.

scholarly journals Images and Representations of the Rudnytskyi Family: The Case of Ukrainians in Galicia Between the Wars

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 49-66
Author(s):  
Illia Chedoluma
Keyword(s):  
Interwar Period ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Political Mobilization ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Anti Semitism ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Ukrainian Society

Caricature journals in the interwar period had a special genre niche, giving the masses, through funny cartoons, a simplified understanding of internal and external political processes. Zyz and Komar were the largest Ukrainian satirical humor journals in interwar Galicia. They mainly covered the internal political life in the Second Polish Republic and international relationships. These journals are primarily intended for people from the countryside, and the editors and owners of these journals used anti-Semitism for the political mobilization of the rural population. I use elements of Serge Moscovici’s theory of social representations to track these processes. A key aspect here is how the image of the Rudnytskyi family was shaped on the pages of these journals. The family was of mixed Ukrainian-Jewish origins, and its members became prominent figures in various spheres of Ukrainian social and political life in interwar Galician Ukrainian society (in politics, literature, music, and the women’s movement). The behavior of the Rudnytskyi family was explained to the readers through their Jewish origins. Zyz and Komar both created an image of the Rudnytskyis as an integral Jewish group occupying different spheres of Ukrainian life. The study of visual caricature images thus enables us to explore the channels of the formation and spread of anti-Semitic images of Jews and the use of the image of “the Jew” in the Galician Ukrainian society in interwar Poland.

Women in Power and Decision making Positions : Conditions and Restraints

1970 ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Azza Charara Baydoun
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
Slow Progress

Women today are considered to be outside the political and administrative power structures and their participation in the decision-making process is non-existent. As far as their participation in the political life is concerned they are still on the margins. The existence of patriarchal society in Lebanon as well as the absence of governmental policies and procedures that aim at helping women and enhancing their political participation has made it very difficult for women to be accepted as leaders and to be granted votes in elections (UNIFEM, 2002).This above quote is taken from a report that was prepared to assess the progress made regarding the status of Lebanese women both on the social and governmental levels in light of the Beijing Platform for Action – the name given to the provisions of the Fourth Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. The above quote describes the slow progress achieved by Lebanese women in view of the ambitious goal that requires that the proportion of women occupying administrative or political positions in Lebanon should reach 30 percent of thetotal by the year 2005!

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