Hegemony: Studies in Consensus and Coercion

The originality and depth of Gramsci's theory of hegemony is now evidenced in the wide-ranging intellectual applications within a growing corpus of research and writings that include social, political and cultural theory, historical interpretation, gender and globalization. The reason that hegemony has been so widely and diversely adopted lies in the unique way that Gramsci formulated the 'problematics' of structure/superstructure, coercion/consensus, materialism/idealism and regression/progression within the concept hegemony. However, in much of the contemporary literature the full complexity of hegemony is either obfuscated or ignored.

Hegemony, through comprehensive and systematic analyses of Gramsci's formulation, a picture of hegemony as a complex syncretism of these dichotomies. In other words, hegemony is presented as a concept that is as much about aspiration and progressive politico-social relations as it is about regressive and dominative processes. Thus, the volume recognises and presents this complexity through a selection of contemporary theoretical as well as historico-social investigations that mark a significantly innovative moment in the work on hegemony.

Richard Howson lectures at the University of Wollongong in social theory, gender and social policy. His research interests include Gramscian theory, postmarxist theory and masculinities culture and practice.

Kylie Smith completed her PhD in the School of History and Politics at the University of Wollongong. She teaches in sociology, history and politics, and has published in the areas of critical /social theory, hegemony and Australian history. She is a founding member of the Gramsci Society Asia Pacific and of the Hegemony Research Group.