Political Hegemony and Social Complexity

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 1-13

3. Complexity from the Sciences to Social Systems

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 15-38

4. Emergence and the Reality of Social Structure

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 39-51

5. Complexity & Political Dynamics

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 53-67

6. Ideologies of Self-Organisation

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 69-86

7. Gramscian Hegemony

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 87-112

8. Post-Structuralist Hegemony

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 113-134

9. Theorising Complex Hegemony

   • Alex Williams

   Pages 135-160

10. The Politics of Complex Hegemony

    • Alex Williams

    Pages 161-193

11. The Complex Hegemony of Neoliberalism

    • Alex Williams

    Pages 195-232

12. Conclusion

    • Alex Williams

    Pages 233-248

13. Back Matter

    Pages 249-252

    PDF

How can we understand power in a world of ever-growing complexity? This book proposes that we can do so by rethinking the theory and practice of political hegemony through the resources of complexity theory. Taking Gramsci’s understanding of hegemony as its starting point, the book argues that the intricacies of contemporary power can be mapped by applying concepts drawn from complexity theory, such as emergence, self-organisation, metastability, and generative entrenchment. It develops an original account of social complexity, drawing upon critical realist sociology, analytic philosophy of science, Marxist and continental philosophies, and neoliberal and anarchist thought. It then draws out the elements of Gramscian hegemony that already align with complexity concepts, such as the balance of forces, common sense, and the historic bloc. On this basis, the book sets out the different dimensions of complex hegemonic power before using this theory to interpret the nature of the power of neoliberalism since 2008.

• hegemonic political theory
• complexity theory
• Gramsci
• philosophy of science
• cybernetics
• post-structuralism
• non-linearity
• social structure
• social emergence
• critical realism
• nonreductive individualism
• political change
• hylomorphism
• political influence
• self-organisation
• common sense
• radical democracy
• ideology
• state theory
• neoliberalism

“This is an excellent introduction to the politics of hegemony in an age of complexity. It provides useful insights into both theories by bringing them into critical relation to one another in a novel way. The book makes a strong contribution to the fields of politics and social theory.” (Jonathan Joseph, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Bristol, UK)

“Hegemony remains an essential concept, without which we cannot make rational sense of political, cultural or social change and stability. Implicitly or explicitly, understandings of hegemony since Gramsci have always been informed by the attempt to map social complexity, and to intervene in it. But no prior work has tackled this subject so directly, or with such clarity and rigour. This book constitutes a remarkably significant contribution to social and political theory, while offering a unique an invaluable perspective on our times.” (Jeremy Gilbert, Professor of Cultural and Political Theory, University of East London, UK)

• School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

  Alex Williams

Alex Williams is a lecturer in the School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies at the University of East Anglia, UK. His work focuses on power, technology, and strategy. He is the co-author of Inventing the Future (with N. Srnicek, 2015) and Hegemony Now (with J. Gilbert, forthcoming).

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