What is Hegemony? - Antonio Gramsci - The Prison Notebooks

Summary

This video explores Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemony, drawn from his *Prison Notebooks*. Gramsci argues that the ruling class maintains control not through force, but through the voluntary consent of the working class, achieved by embedding their worldview in everyday life. This consent is secured through mundane activities like work, school, and religion, making the process of hegemony ongoing and subtle. The video contrasts Gramsci’s focus on ideological struggle with Marx’s economic battleground and highlights the importance of counter-hegemony, where the working class must fight to assert their own ideas and challenge the dominance of the ruling class.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gramsci was a key figure in the Italian Communist Party and developed important theories on ideology while imprisoned by Mussolini's regime.
• 😀 Gramsci's work, 'The Prison Notebooks,' consists of extensive writings on historical analysis, philosophy, and ideological theory.
• 😀 The core concept of Gramsci’s theory is 'hegemony,' which refers to the political leadership based on the consent of the ruled.
• 😀 Hegemony operates through the diffusion of the ruling class’s worldview, making the proletariat unknowingly consent to their own subjugation.
• 😀 The process of hegemony is ongoing and happens through everyday activities like work, school, family, and church, where people internalize the ruling class’s ideas.
• 😀 Unlike coercion, which uses force, hegemony involves voluntary consent, meaning the working class adopts the ruling class’s ideas without explicit pressure.
• 😀 Gramsci’s theory contrasts with Marx’s idea of the battleground being the economic system (mode of production); for Gramsci, it’s ideological conflict.
• 😀 The ideological battleground, according to Gramsci, involves contesting whose ideas become dominant, not just controlling the material means of production.
• 😀 Gramsci emphasizes that hegemony is a continuous, never-ending process where the working class must engage in ideological struggles for power.
• 😀 Counter-hegemony is crucial for the working class to challenge the dominant ideas of the ruling class, aiming to shift ideological power to their side.

Q & A

What is Antonio Gramsci's contribution to the theory of ideology?

Gramsci's major contribution to the theory of ideology is the concept of 'hegemony.' He argued that the ruling class secures the consent of the working class not through force, but by shaping the worldview that becomes accepted as common sense in society.

How does Gramsci define 'hegemony'?

'Hegemony' refers to political leadership that is achieved through the consent of the ruled. This consent is secured by spreading the worldview of the ruling class, making it accepted as common sense by the working class.

What is the key difference between consent and coercion in Gramsci's theory?

In Gramsci's theory, consent refers to the voluntary acceptance of ideas and social norms by the working class, whereas coercion involves the use of force or violence to impose control. Gramsci emphasizes that hegemony is based on consent, not coercion.

How does Gramsci's view of hegemony differ from traditional Marxist thought?

While Marx focuses on economic structures and class struggle in the material world as the battleground for power, Gramsci emphasizes that the ideological struggle, through the process of hegemony, is where the real contest for power takes place.

What role does 'common sense' play in Gramsci's theory of hegemony?

For Gramsci, 'common sense' represents the everyday beliefs and practices that the ruling class instills in society. These beliefs are not presented as a coherent, organized ideology but are rather diffuse and embedded in daily life, making them accepted by the working class as 'natural.'

What is meant by 'counter-hegemony' in Gramsci's theory?

Counter-hegemony refers to the efforts of the working class or oppressed groups to create and promote alternative ideas that challenge the dominant worldview of the ruling class. It is the ideological struggle to shift consent and disrupt the existing power structure.

What does Gramsci mean by 'subaltern'?

The term 'subaltern' in Gramsci's theory refers to the subordinated or oppressed classes in society, primarily the working class, who are subject to the dominance of the ruling class and need to fight for ideological, social, and political power.

How does Gramsci view the process of ideological battle?

Gramsci views the ideological battle as a continuous and dynamic process, where the ideas of different classes (the ruling class and the subaltern) are constantly in conflict. There is no final or static set of ideologies, and the struggle for ideological dominance is never truly resolved.

Why does Gramsci believe that ideology is never fully 'finished'?

Gramsci believes that ideology is always evolving and contested. There is no fully finished, all-encompassing set of ideas because society is constantly changing, and different ideologies will always be in conflict with one another.

What is the importance of everyday life in Gramsci's theory of hegemony?

For Gramsci, everyday life plays a crucial role in the process of hegemony. The ruling class secures consent by embedding their worldview in the daily activities of the working class, such as through work, education, media, and cultural institutions. This makes the ruling class's ideas appear as common sense.