French Literature Reviews - 2026
André Tosel, Le fil de Gramsci
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
POLITICS AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRAXIS
Preface by Vincent Charbonnier
Beyond fleeting trends, Antonio Gramsci remains a "famous unknown." All too often, his thought is caricatured and reduced to a handful of misunderstood catchphrases—such as the "birth of monsters" or the "optimism of the will." To do justice to his body of work, André Tosel traces the underlying philosophy of praxis that structures the political reflections of the Italian leader.
Rejecting any separation between theory and practice, Gramsci proposed a radically new theory of the State, viewing civil society as the arena of the struggle for hegemony. Developed in opposition to Soviet Marxism, this expanded conception of the State led him to formulate a fresh revolutionary strategy. The political party, acting as the "modern Prince," is thus assigned an unprecedented role: to unite heterogeneous social forces in waging a war of position against the ruling class. From the role of intellectuals to the place of Jacobinism in revolutionary processes, this book demonstrates how to make use of the theoretical arsenal that Gramsci has left us.
André Tosel (1941–2017) was a philosopher and professor at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. Recognized as one of the world's leading specialists on Gramsci, his notable publications include Kant révolutionnaire. Droit et politique (Puf, 1988), Du matérialisme de Spinoza (Kimé, 1994), Études sur Marx (et Engels). Vers un communisme de la finitude (Kimé, 1996), and Le Marxisme du XXe siècle (Syllepse, 2009).
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Antonio Gramsci occupies a central place in twentieth-century Marxist philosophy and political thought. Developed largely during his imprisonment under the Fascist regime, his notebooks profoundly reshaped how intellectuals and political scientists understand power, culture, and the State. By challenging reductive economism, Gramsci introduced enduring concepts such as cultural hegemony and the war of position. This intellectual heritage continues to inform debates in political theory, sociology, and cultural studies regarding how dominant ideologies are established, contested, and transformed within modern democratic and authoritarian societies alike.
André Tosel brings decades of specialized scholarship to bear on Gramsci's complex texts, offering readers a rigorous guide to the Italian thinker's philosophical underpinnings. This volume will prove especially valuable for students and researchers in philosophy, political science, and intellectual history seeking to move beyond common political clichés. By carefully reconstructing the unity of Gramsci's theory and practice, the book serves as an essential resource for anyone wishing to understand the ongoing relevance of Marxist philosophy and the dynamics of modern political struggle.
An article discussing this book can be read on en-attendant-nadeau.fr…