Caesarism in the 21st Century: Crisis and Interregnum in World Order

The most insightful analysis of the contemporary moment in history comes from applying a neo-Gramscian framework that sees these events as "morbid symptoms" of an interregnum in world order between an older historic bloc of power losing its legitimacy and a still undefined new historic bloc in the process of being born. This period of transition is marked by eruptions of Caesarism, where charismatic "men of destiny" assume leading roles in the governing institutions of their states and make bids for global leadership or domination. These "digital Caesars" have been most empowered by the proliferation of electronic information and media capabilities, but their power is fragile and will likely disappear assuming a new world order can take hold before they do permanent damage to human civilization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 19 March 2024
Publisher: University of Exeter Press

The challenges of the contemporary historical era are multifaceted and can be interpreted in various ways. Indeed, there has been a wealth of analysis and commentary on significant events such as the September 11th attacks, the Great Recession, the Arab Spring, the election of Donald Trump, and the global pandemic. However, this book contends that the most insightful perspective emerges from applying a neo-Gramscian framework, which views these events as "morbid symptoms" of an interregnum in global order. This interregnum signifies a transition between an older historic bloc of power losing its legitimacy and a yet-to-be-defined new historic bloc in its nascent stages.

Similar to past interregnums, this period of transition is characterized by eruptions of Caesarism, where charismatic "men of destiny" are propelled by populist fervor and assume prominent roles in their nation's governing institutions. These individuals make ambitious attempts to gain global leadership or dominance. Unlike previous eras, however, the "digital Caesars" of today have been particularly empowered by the proliferation of electronic information and media capabilities that have transformed human interaction since the turn of the century.

At the helm of superpower states and prominent technology companies in Silicon Valley, this new breed of Caesar is seizing the opportunity created by the loss of legitimacy in traditional institutions to reshape the world according to their unique visions. Similar to their historical counterparts, the power of these digital Caesars is fragile and is at risk of dissipating if a new world order can establish itself before they cause irreversible harm to human civilization.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804130704