Capitalism, Complexity, and Polycrisis: Toward Neo-Gramscian Polycrisis Analysis

Michael J. Albert explores the debate on “polycrisis,” with proponents viewing crises as interconnected shocks, while Marxist critics argue that this obscures the capitalist roots by treating them as separate and loosely connected. He develops an approach combining Marxism, complexity theory, and neo-Gramscian political economy. Using the European Union’s ongoing polycrisis as an example, Albert shows how neo-Gramscian analysis reveals the constraints imposed by neoliberal hegemony on the EU’s crisis management and offers insights for counter-hegemonic struggles seeking more favorable futures within Europe’s political landscape.