Antonio Gramschi needs little introduction - he was is one of the most widely-read and influential (and, in certain political corners, derided) Marxist philosopher of the 20th century. Gramsci's leadership position within the Communist Party of Italy led to his imprisonment by the Mussolini regime.
But what if the positions of Gramsci and Mussolini had been roughly switched? Assume that the Bienno Rosso escalates into a full-fledged communist revolution, which (even if against long odds) culminates in the successful overthrow of King Victor Emmanuel III. A fractious left-wing regime is established, allowing for the rapid ascent of Gramsci. He is in charge of Italy before the 1920's are over.
So, assuming that the rest of the world's geopolitical situation is roughly the same outside of Italy until Gramsci becomes... well, whatever the Italian communists would have called their ruler... can we use his writings to guess how he would run the country? Additionally, how would he have interacted with the rest of the world, from Stalin in the Soviet Union to the the Western powers of the France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to Nazi Germany if that is not butterflied away? How might the presence of a communist Italy impact the rise of the left in Spain? What about Italy's colonies - does Gramsci try to run them according to Marxist/neo-Marxist principles as well? Might a rump monarchist Italian government try to establish itself in Libya or somewhere else (pulling a Taiwan, if you will)? In general, how does history unfold differently?
But what if the positions of Gramsci and Mussolini had been roughly switched? Assume that the Bienno Rosso escalates into a full-fledged communist revolution, which (even if against long odds) culminates in the successful overthrow of King Victor Emmanuel III. A fractious left-wing regime is established, allowing for the rapid ascent of Gramsci. He is in charge of Italy before the 1920's are over.
So, assuming that the rest of the world's geopolitical situation is roughly the same outside of Italy until Gramsci becomes... well, whatever the Italian communists would have called their ruler... can we use his writings to guess how he would run the country? Additionally, how would he have interacted with the rest of the world, from Stalin in the Soviet Union to the the Western powers of the France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to Nazi Germany if that is not butterflied away? How might the presence of a communist Italy impact the rise of the left in Spain? What about Italy's colonies - does Gramsci try to run them according to Marxist/neo-Marxist principles as well? Might a rump monarchist Italian government try to establish itself in Libya or somewhere else (pulling a Taiwan, if you will)? In general, how does history unfold differently?