Reconstructing Gramsci through Bogdanov: Hegemony, Organization, Marxism and the Science of Systems

Draft slides prepared for the 22th Annual HM Conference, London, 2025; based on the text published as part of Bogdanov, Gramsci e L'Altra Rivoluzione came out from Donzelli in September 2025.

Summary:
The relationship between Gramsci and Bogdanov has great potential for the reconstruction of Marxist theory. The Red Star translation, which emerged from the work of Righi and Ghetti, the smoking gun, has proven that there is a direct link between these two revolutionary thinkers and has brought the discussions that had remained at the level of speculation for years to a new level. It is clear that Gramsci was directly and indirectly influenced by Bogdanov's organizational thinking, and this influence was not limited to issues such as hegemony, culture and proletarian consciousness it was an influence effected Gramsci’s general Machiavellian analysis of power. However, Lenin and Stalin's ideological condemnation of Bogdanov prevented this influence from being clearly expressed and led Gramsci to conceal his interest in Bogdanov.

It is now clear that Bogdanov's Tektology was a forerunner of the revolutionary scientific paradigms of the 20th century, such as cybernetics, systems theory and complexity science. When combined with Bogdanov's universal science of organization, Gramsci's power analysis and theory of hegemony offers a powerful tool for analyzing the complex hegemony of neoliberal globalization its organic crisis as well as for constructing a counter-hegemonic line and project from the perspective of workers and other oppressed classes. The MEGA project, along with new sources such as English translations of Bogdanov's works and critical editions of Gramsci's writings, creates a unique opportunity to reassess these two legacies. In this context, the systematic integration of Gramsci and Bogdanov's ideas will strengthen Marxism's capacity to respond to contemporary global capitalism and open up a new theoretical horizon for the future of socialist strategy. Undoubtedly, Bogdanov's text The Science of Social Consciousness, which we learned would be published soon while preparing this article (in Bogdanov, 2025), will have a groundbreaking impact and be accepted as a starting point, as it applies Tektology to the field of consciousness and ideology, presenting the first Marxian theory of ideology, social psychology and human cognition.

1. Reconstructing Gramsci through Bogdanov Hegemony, Organization, and the Science of Systems Based on: Author’s part in Bogdanov, Gramsci e L’Altra Rivoluzione , Donzelli , 2025 Central Idea: Reinterpreting Gramsci’s theory of hegemony through Bogdanov’s universal science of organization (Tektology).

2. Central Thesis • Gramsci’s theory of hegemony and power can be reconstructed through Bogdanov’s Tektology. • Bogdanov directly influenced Gramsci, though this link was concealed due to Lenin’s and Stalin’s opposition.

3. Direct Relationship Between Gramsci and Bogdanov • Evidence: Gramsci and Yulia Schucht translated Bogdanov’s *Red Star*. • Demonstrates familiarity and sympathy with Bogdanov’s ideas under ideological risk. • Marks direct theoretical contact between the two.

4. Organization as the Common Core • Both make ‘organization’ central to social, political, and scientific life. • Gramsci’s ‘science of organization’ and ‘law of definite proportions’ echo Bogdanov’s Tektology. • Hegemony as applied organizational science of culture and consent.

5. Re-evaluating the Lenin–Bogdanov–Gramsci Triad • Lenin’s critique of Bogdanov marginalized his legacy. • Gramsci concealed Bogdanov’s influence to avoid persecution. • His critique of Bukharin indirectly revisits the Lenin–Bogdanov conflict.

6. Historical and Theoretical Convergence • Scholars (Riechers, Buci-Glucksmann, McNally, Ghetti) confirm deep parallels. • Gramsci’s ‘dynamic equilibrium,’ ‘definite proportions,’ and ‘organization’ show proto-systems logic. • Both thinkers anticipate cybernetic and complexity theories.

7. Relevance for Contemporary Marxism • Bogdanov’s Tektology prefigures systems theory and complexity science. • Integrating Gramsci + Bogdanov helps analyze global capitalist complexity. • Enables renewed counter-hegemonic theory for the 21st century.

8. Call for Systematic Reconstruction • Advocates philologically grounded comparative research. • Aims to recover the hidden link and advance Marxist praxis beyond East–West divides. • From hegemony → organization → systemic praxis.

9. Conclusion Gramsci’s hegemony theory, reinterpreted through Bogdanov’s organizational science, offers a unified framework for modern critical and revolutionary thought. “To understand hegemony, we must understand organization.”