The relevance to the reality of some key aspects of the Neo-Gramscian theory of hegemony

Abstract

The Neo-Gramscian theory of hegemony in international relations has been a remarkable theoretical framework to scholarly evaluate hegemonic phenomena. In practical terms, in the past 20th century, the world-level hegemonic phenomena have remained the dominant feature in the history of international relations with far-reaching effects on individual countries, regions, and continents. In the 21st century, the rise of China with the prospect of replacing the leadership of the United States remains one of the most important features of the times. However, Gramsci originally worked out the hegemonic theory and its related concepts nearly a hundred years ago and the Neo-Gramscianism more than half a century. To qualify as a proper theoretical basis to evaluate such phenomena, it is thus necessary to re-evaluate the above theory’s practical relevance to ensure its coherence to the contemporary world. By utilising the logical and historical methods to look closely at the aspects of the hegemonic theory, namely (i) the national and international scopes of the hegemonic theory, (ii) radical socio-economic revolution, (iii) inside-out development, (iv) mechanism of consensus and international institutions, and (v) historic bloc, the article argues that the Neo-Gramscian perspective of hegemony still has the highly practical relevance to the contemporary international relations.