Call for Papers — On 'Heroic Fury' and Questions of Method in Antonio Gramsci

One-day graduate workshop, University of Sydney, 29 May 2015

On Friday 29 May, the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney is hosting a one-day graduate workshop exploring the work of Antonio Gramsci. Anchored by keynote presentations from two leading scholars, the workshop will bring together research students working with Gramsci’s writings and conceptual tools to collaborate, exchange ideas, establish wider networks, critically engage, and develop their research for publication.

Across the social sciences and tinged with post-disciplinary appeal, there is a rich period of continuing international scholarship on the thought and practice of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci. Most promisingly, one can witness debates on Gramsci and subalternity linked to the work of Massimo Modonesi in Subalternity, Antagonism, Autonomy (2014), on Gramsci and space evidenced in the co-edited volume by Michael Ekers et al., Gramsci: Space, Nature, Politics (2013), on Gramsci, political theory and hegemony as developed by Carlos Nelson Coutinho in Gramsci’s Political Thought (2012), on Gramsci and post-coloniality in Neelam Srivatstava and Baidik Bhattacharya’s edited volume The Postcolonial Gramsci (2012), on The International Politics of Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Guatemala (2007) by Nicola Short, and from a different perspective on Gramsci and Latin America in Jon Beasley-Murray’s Posthegemony, Political Theory and Latin America (2010). The season of Gramsci studies is seemingly everlasting with many ‘images’ of Gramsci ever-present.

In this environment, there has been an understandable growth in the consideration and use of Gramsci’s work by research students worldwide. It seems timely, then, to initiate a postgraduate workshop on and around Gramsci’s writings and methodology.

The workshop is an opportunity for research students to discuss and elaborate their work in dialogue with each other, but also with experts in the field. Keynote presentations from two leading Gramsci scholars will be delivered at the event. The first will be from Peter Thomas (Brunel University), winner of the Premio internazionale Giuseppe Sormani 2011 for his pathbreaking The Gramscian Moment (2009). Peter is a pivotal scholar exploring a philological method of reading Gramsci relevant to the 21st century that connects philosophy, sociology, and political science as well as linking philosophy to Marxist practice today. The second will be from Adam Morton (University of Sydney), winner of the 2012 BISA International Political Economy Group (IPEG) Book Prize for his monograph Revolution and State in Modern Mexico: The Political Economy of Uneven Development (2011). His major impact has been in advancing a focus on Gramsci’s concept of passive revolution as a method of understanding the political economy of state formation in the modern world.

Workshop details

• The workshop is open to all research students engaged with Gramsci’s work, in Australia and internationally, who wish to present their work.
• Following the workshop, the aim is for participants to realise refereed journal article publications—most likely in a special issue of a leading journal.
• Registration for workshop presenters is free. All other costs (including travel and accommodation) to be covered by presenters and/or their home institution.
• Abstracts of 300 words should be submitted by 16 March 2015.
• Applicants will be advised of abstract selection by 30 March 2015 (at the latest).

For further information or to submit an abstract please contact Elizabeth Humphrys: elizabeth.humphrys@sydney.edu.au