A Study Of Gramsci 's Theory Of Cultural Leadership

Antonio Gramsci is one of Marxist theorists who had great impact in 20th century, whose prison life for more than 10 years did not imprison his brain that never stopped thinking. His deep thought and extensive influence amazed everyone without any exception. The thought of Gramsci’s cultural hegemony came from the basic of Italian proletarian revolution practice with constant improvement and inspection, which was a product of the combination of specific revolution practice and revolution environment and a new development of correlation theory of Marxism as well. Gramsci’s cultural hegemony thought inherited and developed the thoughts of leadership of proletariat in past, which has a significant influence on later generations. Antonio Gramsci, as one of the most ingenious Marxist theorists after Lenin died, his cultural hegemony was based on the conclusion and introspection of proletarian revolution experiences and lessons in Western Europe, meanwhile, it was also from the reflection that some theorists of the Second International misinterpreted Marxist classics into "economic determinism". His thought not only guided the proletarian revolution in Europe, but also enriched the connotation of Marxism, contributing to Marxist theory, which is of profound significance to guide socialist cause in China. Therefore, it is of vital significance to further study, clarify and utilize Gramsci’s cultural hegemony thought for the improvement of socialist politics, economy, ideological and cultural construction in China.This article took the investigation of practice foundation and ideological origin that Gramsci’s cultural hegemony thought generated as background, based on the analysis of implementing site, main part and implementing form, which also systematically analyzed the role, effect, features and deep impact on later generations of cultural hegemony thought. Starting with the venation of cultural hegemony thought, this article analyzed the internal relations of cultural hegemony a and ruling party, state-owned enterprises, ideological and political education, which put forward that cultural hegemony is the basic of ideological and political education, in turn, ideological and political education can consolidate cultural hegemony. Finally, it analyzed the practical enlightenment of this theory by combining the existing problems of socialist cultural construction and cultural hegemony establishment in China.The first chapter mainly discussed the realistic backgrounds and theoretical origins of Gramsci’s cultural hegemony thought. The realistic backgrounds were consisted of Gramsci’s life experience, hardship of revolutionary political career, his exploration to European socialist revolution, his criticism and reflection of economic determinism from the Second International. The theoretical origins included the theoretical foundation of local thinkers in Italy and profound influence from Marxism. The second chapter expounded the main contents of cultural hegemony thought. By reflecting the relationship of fordism capitalist society country and civil society, it illustrated the connotation of Gramsci’s cultural hegemony thought and revealed that the acquirement and construction of cultural hegemony required the function of "education and molding" and the willing acceptance from ruling class to maintain by adopting other’s benefit to itself. Civil society was an important implementing site that cultural hegemony fight for. It analyzed the differences and relationship between Gramsci traditional intellectuals and organic intellectuals, stating the organic connection of organic intellectuals and proletarian party and its important role in the revolution. Organic intellectuals were the main parts that cultural hegemony contended. Based on the inspection of the most original integrity revolution strategy, this chapter analyzed the differences of strategy and tactics between eastern and western proletarian revolution and uncovered the importance of positional warfare in western revolution domain. Flexible utilization of positional warfare and mobile warfare was an important implementing form that cultural hegemony contested with. The third chapter mainly illustrated the influence and contemporary value of cultural hegemony.Firstly, it analyzed the major impact of cultural hegemony on Birmingham school, Althusser and post-colonialism, as well as the influence on our country. Then this part analyzed the guiding function and enlightenment significance of cultural hegemony thought for current culture and the ideological political work in our country.On the basis of practical problems of cultural hegemony construction in China, countermeasure and suggestion that strengthen ideological and political education work and perfect cultural hegemony construction was promoted. The discussion was from different aspects:strengthening the construction of primary party, improving ideological and political accomplishment of party members, enhancing the cultivation of organic intellectuals, consummating the supervision of authority and resolutely punish corruption.Finally, it briefly analyzed the rise of social emerging stratum, the change of civil society since reform and opening up, and state-owned enterprises, a huge organisms across economic, political and civil society, how it influenced the battle of cultural hegemony and the development of national economy. It strived to strengthen the construction of socialist culture and socialist core values, prompt the healthy development of state-owned economy, consolidate the party ruling status and cultural hegemony and constantly fortify the social identity basis of socialist core value system.The conclusion part of this article reviewed and summarized the whole paper and prospected the future.