Antonio Gramsci’s Political Thought – UGC NET Political Science Notes

Introduction 

Antonio Gramsci (18911937) was a Marxist theorist of Italian origin whose thoughts reformed the Marxist philosophy, and his thought concentrated on culture and ideology and how civil society upholds power. He wrote his Prison Notebooks by this time under the fascist regime of Mussolini; in them he developed notions of cultural hegemony, organic intellectuals, and the war of position. The idea of Gramsci can give indications of what the dominant groups do to remain in the position of consent and how a subordinate populace can create counter-hegemony. He retains his importance in awareness of ideology, leadership, and democratic change and as such, he is very crucial to aspirants of UGC NET.

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Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) was an Italian Marxist theorist, journalist, and political activist who challenged orthodox Marxism by emphasizing culture and ideology. Imprisoned by Mussolini’s fascist regime, he wrote the Prison Notebooks, developing concepts like cultural hegemony, organic intellectuals, and the war of position. Gramsci argued that ruling classes maintain power through consent shaped in civil society rather than coercion alone. His work profoundly influenced Marxist and critical theory worldwide.

Biographical Context 

• Early Life: Born in Sardinia; joined the Italian Socialist Party.
• Journalism & Activism: Editor of Avanti! and founder of Ordine Nuovo.
• Prison Years (1926–1937): Arrested by Mussolini; wrote the Prison Notebooks under harsh conditions.
• Legacy: Died in 1937; posthumously published works influenced global left movements.

Core Concepts

Cultural Hegemony

• Definition: Dominant class’s ideas presented as universal values.
• Function: Consent manufactured through civil society (education, media, religion).
• Implication: Power depends on ideology as much as on coercion.

Organic vs. Traditional Intellectuals

War of Position & War of Maneuver

• War of Maneuver: Direct political confrontation (revolutionary seizure of power).
• War of Position: Long-term cultural struggle to build alternative hegemony within civil society before state power can be challenged.

Civil Society & State

• Civil Society: Sphere of private associations, institutions mediating between individual and state.
• State: ‘Political society’ uses force; civil society uses consent.
• Strategy: Transform civil society to achieve political change.

Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks

• Structure: 33 notebooks, numerous fragments.
• Language: Dense, aphoristic, multilingual references.
• Themes: Hegemony, history, philosophy of praxis, national-popular, southern question (Italy’s regional divide).
• Methodology: ‘Historicist’ Marxism linking theory to concrete political practice.

Gramsci vs. Classical Marxism

Relevance to Contemporary Politics

• Media Studies: Analysis of corporate and digital media hegemony.
• Civil Society Movements: NGOs, social movements as sites of counter-hegemonic practice.
• Education & Curriculum: Role in shaping ideological frameworks.
• Globalization: Transnational hegemony of neoliberal ideology and resistance through alternative networks.

Comparative Perspectives

Significance for UGC NET Aspirants

• MCQs: Precise definitions and contrastive terminology.
• Descriptive: Case examples (e.g., media hegemony in India, civil society in environmental movements).
• Essay Writing: Thematic essays on hegemony, state–society relations, grassroots activism.

Conclusion 

The political philosophy of Antonio Gramsci has contributed to the enhancement of the Marxist theory by locating culture, ideology, and civil society in the forefront of power thinking. His ideas of hegemony, organic intellectuals and the war of position equip us with instruments of analyzing domination as well as resistance in contemporary societies. As far as UGC NET Political Science is concerned, learning Gramsci means understanding his main points and using them in the context of the modern state of governance, the press and social movements. His legacy goes on as a mediator between theory and praxis through which a way towards democratic transformation is possible.