Building over Planning: Radical Counter-Hegemony and the Dinosaurs of the Old Left
Abstract
Recent economic crises have catalyzed a surge of Leftist, progressive and radical discourse, particularly in the US and Europe. Among this diverse body of work, The Nation’s ‘Reimagining Socialism’ forum and ZCommunications’ ongoing ‘Reimagining Society Project’ are among the most widely read and prestigiously authored. Unfortunately, an unacceptable bulk of this literature repeats tired socialist maxims, arguments circumscribed by a narrow vision of how productive social change manifests. The danger is that alternative, particularly radical visions, may suffer because of the dominance of this staid discourse, forestalling opportunities for cooperation, consensus and progress. In response, this article presents a more processual approach to understanding both the modern social landscape and the complex mechanics of social change, drawing from the work of Antonio Gramsci. The Gramscian perspective suggests that those seeking radical social change cannot rely on elaborate stratagems as they risk falling into the trap of static models and totalized subjects. Instead, it is the manner in which activists articulate their vision that gives them power; careful articulation permits the flexibility needed to navigate shifting social realities. Further, careful articulation allows for seemingly disparate and common practices to be woven into a more cohesive vision of social change.