A silent revolution sweeps Europe: 'right-wing Gramscism'

A subtle yet potent movement, dubbed "right-wing Gramscism," is gaining traction across Europe, mirroring the cultural and ideological strategies historically employed by the left. This approach sees far-right factions actively seeking to influence public discourse and cultural institutions to achieve their political aims.

The core of this strategy lies in Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony, which posits that a ruling class must first win the "battle of minds" by infiltrating societal institutions such as universities, media, and cultural organizations. The idea is that political power naturally follows once societal thinking has been transformed. Historically, the European left successfully utilized this model from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Now, the European far-right appears to have learned from past electoral failures, realizing that winning votes without winning hearts and minds is unsustainable. This has led to the adoption of a "Gramsci in reverse" approach. The focus is shifting from direct electoral conquest to a long-term "battle for institutions." This involves strategically placing loyalists in key positions within public media, museums, literary award juries, and university curriculum committees.

Examples of this strategy are emerging across the continent. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has systematically appointed trusted individuals to lead numerous cultural foundations and public media outlets since 2010. Similarly, Italy's government under Giorgia Meloni has been systematically reviewing appointments in major national cultural institutions since 2023. This "silent revolution" also emphasizes multiplying intellectual output through the proliferation of right-wing think tanks, such as France's Institut Iliade and Germany's Institut für Staatspolitik, which aim to cultivate a nationalist cultural perspective among younger generations.