The vitality and richness of Gramscian studies continue to manifest themselves across the world in a variety of ways. Nothing is more important for the dissemination and the deepening knowledge of Gramsci's work and thought than direct access to his writings. It is, therefore, especially gratifying to note the numerous editions of Gramsci's works that have been recently published or are currently being prepared for publication.
In Italy, the appearance of Antonio Santucci's new critical edition of the Lettere dal carcere--which in many respects parallels Frank Rosengarten's edition of the Letters from Prison --represents a singular milestone in Gramscian studies. In Germany, where the volumes of the complete critical edition of the Gefängnishefte (edited by Klaus Bochmann and Wolfgang Fritz Haug) continue to appear with admirable regularity, a new initiative has been undertaken by Ursula Apitzsch and her collaborators--they have already produced the first of four projected volumes of Gramsci's Gefängnis Briefe that will include the texts (accompanied by a critical apparatus) of all the letters written by and to Gramsci during the years of his detention. In France, the final volume of Robert Paris' critical edition of the Cahiers de Prison was published by Gallimard in March. The second volume of Joseph Buttigieg's complete critical edition in English of the Prison Notebooks will be published by Columbia University Press in October, 1996.
Gramsci's presence is also quite widespread in "cyberspace." Anyone scanning the internet in search of Gramsci is likely to come up with numerous interesting items. One such item (Charlie Bertsch's article on the "discovery" of Gramsci by the guru of the American right, Rush Limbaugh) is reproduced in this issue. Recognizing the immense value of computer technology and the global reach of the internet system, John Cammett has established a website entirely devoted to "Resources on Gramsci" which, among other things, provides researchers with extremely convenient and speedy access to an exhaustive and regularly updated Gramscian bibliography. The fully integrated "electronic" bibliography, with its highly sophisticated search engines, enables its users to conduct searches of much greater complexity and specificity than is possible when utilizing the printed versions. The website also provides access to the complete text of previous issues of the IGS Newsletter, as well as to other useful information and links. (See p. 10 of this issue for details.) In the meantime, Dario Ragazzini is in the final stages of preparing a computer based version of the Quaderni. [END PAGE 1]
Equally indicative of the keen interest in Gramsci's work and thought is the founding of new "Gramsci Society" groups in different countries. This issue contains information about the establishment of the Italian section of the IGS which has already been very active. In addition to a conference in Naples, our Italian colleagues organized a formal "presentation" of Antonio Santucci's edition of the Lettere which was held in the hall of the Library of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. Speakers at the event included Valentino Gerratana, Giuseppe Fiori, Dacia Maraini, Rossana Rossanda, and Enzo Santarelli. The IGS-Italia is now planning a conference to be held in Naples in 1997 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Gramsci's death. In Mexico, the "Sociedad Gramsci" was established with its legal seat at the Centro de Estudios del Movimento Obrero y Socialista in Mexico City, and its research center at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco. The document of its constitution is also reproduced in this issue of the Newsletter. Plans are also being made to establish a German section of the IGS at a conference on Gramsci that will be held in Berlin on 18-20 April 1997 (for detailed information see pp. 41-43 of this Newsletter). Furthermore, we have received news from Maria Clara Andrade in Brazil of plans to establish the "Núcleo de Estudos Antonio Gramsci" as the Brazilian section of the International Gramsci Society.
The formation of national or regional sections of the International Gramsci Society can be of great help in facilitating the dissemination and exchange of information about Gramsci and his work on a global scale. The benefits of such organizations can already be seen in this issue of the Newsletter--the Italian section was compiled by members of the IGS-Italia. Special thanks are due to Guido Liguori for his coordinating activities, and especially for furnishing the bibliographical update. We hope that in the future we will be provided with similar valuable materials for publication by other national and regional Gramsci societies and study groups.