Antonio Gramsci (Italian Marxist thinker)

Antonio Gramsci was an Italian Marxist thinker who analyzed how societal power is maintained beyond economic control. He introduced the concept of cultural hegemony, explaining that dominant groups influence culture and ideas to shape perceptions and maintain their authority. Instead of relying solely on force or economic dominance, they win people's consent by shaping norms, values, and beliefs. Gramsci emphasized the importance of consciousness, education, and cultural struggle in creating social change, advocating for a "war of position" where lasting transformation involves changing societal ideas and culture, not just economic structures.