This book challenges the conventional understanding of two influential Italian political thinkers, Gaetano Mosca and Antonio Gramsci, by arguing they belong to the same tradition of democratic elitism. Maurice A. Finocchiaro posits that Gramsci's political theory is a direct, constructive critique of Mosca's, with their shared core being the attempt to reconcile democracy and elitism. The author contends that these concepts are not opposing forces but are, in fact, compatible and interdependent within a theoretical framework. A close examination of their major works reveals a common belief in the feasibility of democratic elitism, thereby diminishing the significance of the traditional left-right political spectrum.

This book is likely to be of interest to scholars and students of political theory, Italian intellectual history, and the history of ideas. The author's argument that Mosca and Gramsci are closer than commonly supposed, belonging to a shared tradition of democratic elitism, offers a novel perspective that challenges established classifications. By focusing on their shared belief in the viability of democratic elitism, the book aims to reframe the understanding of their contributions and the broader political landscape they inhabited. The work promises a rigorous examination of their major texts to support its central thesis.