Cultural Marxism’s Origins: How the Disciples of an Obscure Italian Linguist Subverted America

You may have heard the terms “Cultural Marxism,” “Critical Theory” or “Frankfurt School” bandied about. And while you might have an intuitive approximation of what these terms mean for America in the 21st century, there’s a good chance that you don’t know much about the deep theory, where the ideology comes from and what it has planned for America – and the world.

The underlying theory here is a variant of Marxism, pioneered by early-20th-century Italian Marxist politician and linguist Antonio Gramsci. Gramscian Marxism is a radical departure from Classical Marxism. One does not need to endorse the Classical Marxism of Marx, Engels and others to appreciate the significant differences between the two. He is easily the most influential thinker that you have never heard of.

There are two important diversions that Gramscism has from more traditional Marxist thought: First, that economics was the base of culture and politics. Second, philosophical materialism in the Marxist sense where reality is effectively formed by the means of economic production.

For Gramsci, culture was more important than either economics or politics. This was what needed to be changed for there to be a revolution. As such, the weapon to be used for revolution was not the economic might of an organized working class, but a “long march through the institutions” (a phrase actually coined by German Marxist Rudi Dutschke), whereby every institution in the West would be subverted through penetration and infiltration. …

No; Marx and Engels actually had that covered. Take note of what The Principles of Communism says:

In all probability, the proletarian revolution will transform existing society gradually and will be able to abolish private property only when the means of production are in sufficient quantity.

The ten planks of communism, outlined in both the Manifesto and Principles, explain exactly the process of subversion of existing institutions, envisioned through “democracy” as the vehicle whereby the proletariat becomes the superior class.

ALERT -

Pete Buttigieg’s father, Joseph Buttigieg

“was translator and editor of the three-volume English edition of Antonio Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks, published from 1992 to 2007 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a founding member and president of the International Gramsci Society, founded to facilitate communication between those who study Italian philosopher and political leader Antonio Gramsci.”

Reference - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Buttigieg

Excellent article. Thanks.

I visited friends in Rome in the late ‘80s. She is a doctor, he an architect. They have a beautiful home in a wealthy area. I was amazed to learn that they were Communists. They explained they were Gramsci Communists and would never tear down institutions, etc. They were kind, charitable people.

I had an email exchange with her at the start of C-19, she was very afraid for her elderly mother. She hasn’t answered an email since. I do wish her well and her dear sweet mother too.

BUT...wonder what she’d think of the situation in the US now. She lived here for years, did her residence at UCSF Med. I wonder what she’d think of BLM and all the destruction in Dem cities==after all, she lived in one.

Very good introduction to this important subject.

Also, very helpful to find all the major players and their philosophical summaries linked together in one essay.

A long essay, but well worth the effort to read it.

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