This article compares the analyses of Antonio Gramsci and Louis Althusser through a common object of their reflections - the thought of Niccolo Machiavelli. This enables us to present the theory of history that is implicit in each one of these thinkers by: 1) showing the elements that provide unity to Gramsci and Althusser´s analyses of Machiavelli´s work and discussing their interpretations of the latter; 2) presenting the elements of rupture within these analyses and lastly, 3) in our attempt to present a global view of the relationship between Althusser and Gramsci as critics of Machiavelli´s thought, we indicate the differences between these authors´ theories of history. While Machiavelli had a cyclical view of history, based on his beliefs in human nature, Gramsci refused to put forth any view of "innate nature"; nonetheless, he did hold a teleological view of human history. On the other hand, Althusser, coinciding with Gramsci on the inexistence of any type of " innate human nature", was in disagreement with him regarding a teleology of history, preferring a pluri-causal perspective rooted in a conception of the coexistence of modes of production and of more than two social classes.
Political Theory; Marxism; class struggle; theory of history; Machiavelli; Gramsci; Althusser