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Gramsci, Theory, and Modernity GRAMSCI, THEORY, AND MODERNITY: A HISTORICAL-CONTEXTUAL APPROACH TO ANTONIO GRAMSCI’S CONCEPTION OF RACE, SEX, CULTURE, AND POLITICS A Dissertation by ROBERT F. CARLEY Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2012 Major Subject: Sociology GRAMSCI, THEORY, AND MODERNITY: A HISTORICAL-CONTEXTUAL APPROACH TO ANTONIO GRAMSCI’S CONCEPTION OF RACE, SEX, CULTURE, AND POLITICS A Dissertation by ROBERT F. CARLEY Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Joseph O. Jewell Committee Members, Sarah N. Gatson Robert Mackin John J. McDermott Head of Department, Jane Sell May 2012 Major Subject: Sociology iii ABSTRACT Gramsci, Theory, and Modernity: A Historical-Contextual Approach to Antonio Gramsci’s Conception of Race, Sex, Culture, and Politics.(May 2012) Robert Carley, B.A., Rutgers University; M.A.I.S., George Mason University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Joseph O. Jewell The goal of this dissertation is to investigate the impact that historical (and cultural) contexts have on the production of theories and concepts. In specific, I am interested in the relationship between historical and cultural contexts and the production of theoretical knowledge. I define historical periods in theory as modernist and an “after-modern” context, which comprises poststructuralism, postmodernism and post-Marxism. My case is the life and work of Antonio Gramsci; a “classical theorist” whose work remains salient across the social sciences and humanities. I hypothesize that in order to understand the historiography of knowledge in the social sciences, from the classical period to the present, significant points of “departure” in theory (e.g. Gramsci, Marxism, psychoanalysis, feminism) need to be viewed contextually. By extension, a better way to fully understand Gramsci’s insights, and their endurance, for the study of race, sexuality, culture and politics is to situate his methodology, theories, and concepts historically. In the dissertation propose two ways to test this hypothesis: 1. I provide an historically grounded interpretation of Gramsci’s political thinking (a orienting place for much of Gramsci’s thought) which includes, for example, changes iv in his perspective about the strategic role of specific political groups, e.g. social movement organizations, in achieving political goals; 2. I embed his theoretical and conceptual framework within the theoretical discourses prevalent during his time, which would include, for example, the rise and predominance of Italian positivist criminology as a racial discourse. I also hypothesize that in this case, such an interpretation is necessary to fully and accurately understand the potential contribution of Gramsci’s theoretical framework to contemporary theoretical discourses in both the social sciences and humanities-based disciplines. This dissertation is organized around the following sets of questions. My originating question, which establishes the analytical framework for the dissertation, is: What impact does historical (and cultural) contexts have on the production of theories and concepts? As it pertains to my specific case, the life and work of Antonio Gramsci, I sharpen the point by asking: In the context of the originating research question, In what ways have the historical (and cultural) contexts effected the production of theories and concepts in Gramsci’s work? This dissertation represents a contribution to the sociology of ideas as well as to classical theory by providing a new lens through which to look at the early contributions of sociological knowledge. Further, each individual section—which represents explorations of specific theoretical rubrics—may lead to contributions within these distinct areas. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to two people: My daughter, Ayira, who came into my and my partner Shona’s life at the conclusion of the first draft of this dissertation and who will no doubt be the subject of many more dedications of all kinds. John J. McDermott who made a home for me within the space of an institution (not an easy thing to do) and carried that home with him, wherever he went, in case he bumped into me. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I want to thank Dr. Joseph O. Jewell, my committee chair, who was generous with his time, intellect, and spirit and to whom I owe an enormous debt of gratitude. I also want to thank my dissertation committee: Dr. Sarah N. Gatson, Dr. Robert Mackin and Dr. John J. McDermott who not only provided valuable criticism to me during the course of writing my dissertation and in my dissertation defense but who were also supportive, sensitive, and extremely considerate. Many other people have looked at earlier drafts of these sections, some so early that they could not be taken for the sections that appear here, but I want to thank the following people in particular: Roger Lancaster (George Mason University), Pablo Castagno (Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Argentina), Paul Almeida (Texas A&M University/University of California, Merced), Bob Griffin (Texas A&M University). I also want to thank participants in the National Communication Association Pre-conference seminar, “Revolutionary Voices: Marxism, Communication and Social Change,” specifically, Steven Macek, Dan Berger, Marco Briziarelli, and Andreas Ytterstad for their comments on sections of my last section and support for my work. Finally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my colleague and close friend Christopher Michael Sutch, who proofread the entire dissertation and who absolutely let me know when there were problems but also was extraordinarily supportive and let me know when there were important insights. Chris, I can’t thank you enough. Lastly, I want to thank my loving partner, Shona Jackson, who is a saint for putting up with me, stubborn and deeply imperfect person that I am. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................ iii DEDICATION............................................................................................................................. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................. vii 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Questions………………………………………………………………… 2 1.2 Methods and Data………………………………………………………………….. 4 1.3 Review of Literature……………………………………………………………….. 5 2. CONJUNCTURE AS A CONCEPTUAL MEDIATION IN STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL THEORIES OF RACE: AN HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF GRAMSCI’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO RACE AND ETHNICITY…………………… 8 2.1 How Gramsci is Relevant to the Study of Race and Ethnicity: Contextualizing Stuart Hall, the Politics of Race, Racism, and Racialization, and the Problem of Cultural and Structural Analyses………….. 11 2.2 Why Gramsci is Relevant to the Study of Race and Ethnicity: A Discursive and Historical Analysis…………………………………………........ 26 2.3 Findings and Conclusion…………………………………………………………... 41 3. GRAMSCI AND SEX: ANTONIO GRAMSCI, HERBERT MARCUSE, SIGMUND FREUD, PRODUCTION, SEXOLOGY AND VICISSITUDES OF ECONOMY……….. 44 3.1 Gramsci’s Method, Buttigeig’s Caveat…………………………………………….. 47 3.2 “Societas Rerum and the Societas Hominum”……………………………………... 50 3.3 Sexological Interlude………………………………………………………………. 53 3.4 Gramsci’s Sexology or “Civil” Wars of Position: Societas Rerum vs. Societas Hominum vs. Societas Rerum………………………. 61 3.5 Demography and Sex………………………………………………………………. 67 4. GRAMSCI, PHILOSOPHY, CULTURE, AND AGENCY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLASSICAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY AND CLASSICAL SOCIOLGICAL THOUGHT……………………….. 71 4.1 Habit, Habitus and Practice or Society, Bodies, and Experience………………….. 74 4.2 “Percept” and the Disambiguation of Reality……………………………………… 79 viii Page 4.3 Gramsci, Marx, and James…………………………………………………………. 84 4.4 Labor and Ontology Today………………………………………………………… 89 5. ANTONIO GRAMSCI AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP: AN INTERVENTION INTO THE LOGIC OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS THEORETICAL PRESUMPTIONS………………………………………………………. 93 5.1 Theoretical Presumptions, Regarding Gramsci, as the Impetus for the Study: Tarrow and Foran and the Classical Sociological Tradition……………………….. 95 5.2 Gramsci and Framing in Social Movement Scholarship: A Discussion…………… 102 5.3 Bridging Moral Economy with Globalization……………………………………... 109 6. GRAMSCI AND THE AFTERLIVES OF POLITICS: IDEOLOGY, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, AND THE ROLE OF INTELLECTUALS…….. 111 6.1 A Gramscian Approach to Ideological Analysis: The Centrality of Organic and Traditional Intellectuals...…………………………. 111 6.2 Gramsci and Ideology: A Definition of “Historically Organic Ideology”…………. 113 6.3 Contention, Ideology, and Intellectuals: Organic and Traditional…………………. 115 6.3.1 Organic Intellectuals……………………………………………………….. 115 6.3.2 Traditional Intellectuals……………………………………………………. 119 6.4 Gramsci, Social Movements, Frame Processes, and Ideology…………………….. 123 6.5 Social Movement Theories of Ideology:…………………………………………… 125 6.5.1 Ideologically Structured Behavior…………………………………………. 125 6.5.2 Ideological Salience………………………………………………………..
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