Antonio Gramsci

Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.

Chronology: 1891-01-22 – 1937-04-27

Origins & Early Life

Antonio Francesco Gramsci (UK: GRAM-shee, US: GRAHM-shee; Italian: [anˈtɔːnjo franˈtʃesko ˈɡramʃi] ; 22 January 1891 – 27 April 1937) was an Italian Marxist philosopher, journalist and politician. He was a founding member and one-time leader of the Italian Communist Party. A vocal critic of Benito Mussolini and fascism, he was imprisoned in 1926, and remained in prison until shortly before his death in 1937. During his imprisonment, Gramsci wrote more than 30 notebooks and 3,000 pages of history and analysis.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His Prison Notebooks are considered a highly original contribution to 20th-century political theory. Gramsci drew insights from varying sources—not only other Marxists but also thinkers such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Vilfredo Pareto, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, Georg Hegel, Pierre Joseph Proudhon, Georges Sorel, and Benedetto Croce. The notebooks cover a wide range of topics, including the history of Italy and Italian nationalism, the French Revolution, fascism, Taylorism and Fordism, civil society, the state, historical materialism, folklore, religion, and high and popular culture. Gramsci is best known for his theory of cultural hegemony, which describes...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia