Marxism: Gramsci and hegemony

Question 1

How does Gramsci use the concept of hegemony and what does he believe the P have to do to win the leadership of society?

Answer 1

• he uses the idea of hegemony to explain how the ruling class maintains its position
• he argues that the P must develop its own ‘counter-hegemony’ to win the leadership of society from the B

Question 2

Why does he reject economic determinism as an explanation of change? What does he believe is the most central role in determining whether or not change will actually occur?

Answer 2

• he believes the transition from capitalism to communism will never come about simply as a result of economic factors
• he believes ideas will play a central role in determining whether or not change will actually occur

Question 3

What two ways does Gramsci see the ruling class maintain its dominance over society? Give some details

Answer 3

• coercion - it uses the army, police, prisons of the capitalist state to force other classes to accept its rule
• consent (hegemony) - it uses ideas and values to persuade the P that its rule is legitimate

Question 4

Gramsci recognises that the B rely heavily on consent to maintain their rule. How are Gramsci and Marx’s ideas the same on this matter?

Answer 4

• they both agree that the B are able to do this because they control the institutions that produce and spread ideas, such as the media, the education system and religion

Question 5

What are the two reasons that the hegemony of the ruling class never complete?

Answer 5

• the ruling are a minority - to rule, they need to create a power bloc by making alliances with other groups such as the middle classes - they must, therefore, make ideological compromises
• the P have a dual consciousness - their ideas are influenced not only by B ideology but also their material conditions of life eg. poverty, this means they can ‘see through’ dominant ideology to some degree

Question 6

Why is the possibility of ruling class hegemony being undermined especially high in times of economic crisis?

Answer 6

• the P see the worsening material conditions and their increased poverty which causes them to question the status quo

Question 7

How will the P have to do to carry out a successful revolution?

Answer 7

• construct a counter-hegemonic bloc - must be able to offer moral and ideological leadership in society

Question 8

How does Gramsci believe the P would be able to win the battle against the B?

Answer 8

• by producing their own ‘organic intellectuals’ - a body of class-conscious workers, organised into a revolutionary body who are able to formulate an alternative vision of how society could be run in the future

Question 9

How could Gramsci be accused of over-emphasising the role of ideas?

Answer 9

• workers may see through ruling-class ideology but may fear state repression/ unemployment

Question 10

Give an example of a study where the wc were ‘partially penetrating’

Answer 10

• Paul Willis’ study of the wc boys in which they saw through the school’s ideology to recognise that meritocracy is a myth