The affinities of Norberto Bobbio

In: New left review: NLR, Band 170, Heft Jul/Aug 88

Abstract

Argues that Bobbio's work represents an original fusion, with borrowings from the sociology of power as well as from the liberal and socialist mainstreams. Born out of the hopes inspired by the anti-fascist resistance, it has involved major debates with the theorists of Italian Communism, helping to push the PCI towards Euro-Communism. A close reading of the different strands in Bobbio's work leads to the suggestion that while his attempted synthesis was bold and creditable, it has not ultimately achieved coherence. (Abstract amended)