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Full Idea
Caesarism (as the emergence of a 'heroic' personality) expresses a situation in which the forces in conflict balance each other in a catastrophic manner ...which can only terminate in their reciprocal destruction.
Gist of Idea
Caesarism emerges when two forces in society are paralysed in conflict
Source
Antonio Gramsci (Selections from Prison Notebooks [1971], 2 'Caesarism')
Book Ref
Gramsci,Antonio: 'Selections from Prison Notebooks', ed/tr. Hoare,Q./Nowell Smith,G [Lawrence and Wishart 1978], p.219
A Reaction
He goes on to distinguish progressive and reactionary versions of Caesarism. Gramsci's interest is in the circumstances that throw up such people. Marx had identified 'Bonapartism'.
| 11388 | Let there be one ruler [Homer] |
| 6320 | The best rulers are invisible, the next admired, the next feared, and the worst are exploited [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 19964 | The natural power of a father suggests rule by one person, but that authority can be spread [Montesquieu] |
| 21089 | Monarchs have the highest power; autocrats have complete power [Kant] |
| 20936 | Caesarism emerges when two forces in society are paralysed in conflict [Gramsci] |
| 19627 | Opportunists can save a nation, and heroes can ruin it [Cioran] |