Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis
Abstract Non-technical summary Advocates of the concept of polycrisis show that our world faces many interconnected risks that can compound and reinforce each other. Marxist critics, on the contrary, argue that polycrisis advocates have not yet given sufficient attention to the role of capitalism as...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000109/type/journal_article |
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| author | Michael J. Albert |
| author_facet | Michael J. Albert |
| author_sort | Michael J. Albert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Non-technical summary
Advocates of the concept of polycrisis show that our world faces many interconnected risks that can compound and reinforce each other. Marxist critics, on the contrary, argue that polycrisis advocates have not yet given sufficient attention to the role of capitalism as a root cause of these intersecting crises. This paper agrees with these critics. But I also argue that it is possible to develop an alternative approach to polycrisis analysis rooted in the traditions of Marxism and neo-Gramscian theory. The paper applies this approach to analyze the European Union's ongoing polycrisis and sketch out its possible futures.
Technical summary
Advocates of the term polycrisis often claim that contemporary crises cannot be reduced to a single driver or dominant contradiction, forming instead a complex multiplicity of inter-systemic shocks. Marxist critics, on the contrary, claim that this approach, by framing contemporary crises as disparate and merely contingently connected, obscures the capitalist roots of contemporary crises. I agree with these critics to a point, though I argue that polycrisis thinking is needed to deepen Marxist analyses of the inter-systemic dynamics of contemporary crises and their possible futures. Polycrisis thinking needs Marxism to deepen its analysis of the political economy of polycrisis, whereas Marxism needs polycrisis thinking to enrich its understanding of the political opportunities and constraints that these intersecting crises may create for counter-hegemonic movements. To synthesize the insights of Marxism and polycrisis analysis, I develop an approach rooted in complexity theory and neo-Gramscian political economy. Using the European Union's (EU) ongoing polycrisis as an illustrative example, I show how neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis can highlight the constraints that neoliberal hegemony places on the EU's efforts to manage its intersecting crises, while also informing counter-hegemonic struggles aiming to navigate toward more desirable futures in Europe's political possibility space.
Social media summary
This paper combines polycrisis thinking and Marxism to analyze the current polycrisis and possible futures of the European Union.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b302b6433e1432594e7ca5d89a03acd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2059-4798 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b302b6433e1432594e7ca5d89a03acd2025-08-20T02:48:41ZengCambridge University PressGlobal Sustainability2059-47982025-01-01810.1017/sus.2025.10Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysisMichael J. Albert0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8334-9544School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKAbstract Non-technical summary Advocates of the concept of polycrisis show that our world faces many interconnected risks that can compound and reinforce each other. Marxist critics, on the contrary, argue that polycrisis advocates have not yet given sufficient attention to the role of capitalism as a root cause of these intersecting crises. This paper agrees with these critics. But I also argue that it is possible to develop an alternative approach to polycrisis analysis rooted in the traditions of Marxism and neo-Gramscian theory. The paper applies this approach to analyze the European Union's ongoing polycrisis and sketch out its possible futures. Technical summary Advocates of the term polycrisis often claim that contemporary crises cannot be reduced to a single driver or dominant contradiction, forming instead a complex multiplicity of inter-systemic shocks. Marxist critics, on the contrary, claim that this approach, by framing contemporary crises as disparate and merely contingently connected, obscures the capitalist roots of contemporary crises. I agree with these critics to a point, though I argue that polycrisis thinking is needed to deepen Marxist analyses of the inter-systemic dynamics of contemporary crises and their possible futures. Polycrisis thinking needs Marxism to deepen its analysis of the political economy of polycrisis, whereas Marxism needs polycrisis thinking to enrich its understanding of the political opportunities and constraints that these intersecting crises may create for counter-hegemonic movements. To synthesize the insights of Marxism and polycrisis analysis, I develop an approach rooted in complexity theory and neo-Gramscian political economy. Using the European Union's (EU) ongoing polycrisis as an illustrative example, I show how neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis can highlight the constraints that neoliberal hegemony places on the EU's efforts to manage its intersecting crises, while also informing counter-hegemonic struggles aiming to navigate toward more desirable futures in Europe's political possibility space. Social media summary This paper combines polycrisis thinking and Marxism to analyze the current polycrisis and possible futures of the European Union. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000109/type/journal_articleeconomicsenergyfood securitypoliciespolitics and governancesocial value |
| spellingShingle | Michael J. Albert Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis Global Sustainability economics energy food security policies politics and governance social value |
| title | Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| title_full | Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| title_fullStr | Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| title_short | Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis: toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| title_sort | capitalism complexity and polycrisis toward neo gramscian polycrisis analysis |
| topic | economics energy food security policies politics and governance social value |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000109/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaeljalbert capitalismcomplexityandpolycrisistowardneogramscianpolycrisisanalysis |