Gramschi’s Hegemonic Ideology and Resistance
• Antonio Gramsci (1971), who is neo-Marxist, looks at people's struggles from an ideological
point of view.
• He has established the concept of hegemony (dominant ideology or cultural leadership) and
argued that the ruling class dominates not only physically but also symbolically
(Ideologically).
• First, Gramsci assumes that the subordinate classes also accept the hegemonic idea that is
given from the above. = “ideological consensus”
• Second, Gramsci says that subordinate classes may oppose the dominant ideology in action
more than in ideas.
• That is, in action, they try to defend their material interests (e.g. need more food, or money).
• Thus, it looks radical. But in their ideas (consciousness), they still obedient to dominant
class.
• This subordinate classes’ idea is called "trade union consciousness" rather than
"revolutionary consciousness."
• The “trade union consciousness” means most people's ideas comes from the dominant
groups themselves, and are more favored for negotiation than radical revolution.
• Third, Gramsci assumes that subordinate class need to create a counterhegemony that will
change the society (Scott 1985: 346).