more from Antonio Gramsci

Single Idea 20935

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will]

Full Idea

At a certain point in their lives, social classes become detached from their traditional parties. In that particular form ...the parties are no longer recognised by their class as its exopression. ...The field is then open for violent solutions.

Gist of Idea

Eventually political parties lose touch with the class they represent, which is dangerous

Source

Antonio Gramsci (Selections from Prison Notebooks [1971], 2 'Parties')

Book Reference

Gramsci,Antonio: 'Selections from Prison Notebooks', ed/tr. Hoare,Q./Nowell Smith,G [Lawrence and Wishart 1978], p.210


A Reaction

Left wing parties pursue ideologies that don't connect with the actual current interests of the working class, and righ wing parties are taken over by rich elites who don't value safe traditonal communities. (This thought is resonant in the 2018 UK).