Traces of Gramscian Theory and Practice in South Africa

This study explores the reception and development of Antonio Gramsci’s political thought in South Africa, from the apartheid era to the late 2010s. By tracing Gramsci’s influence across academia and working-class organisations, the article argues that his categories emerged in response to intellectuals’ and movements’ needs for transformative praxis in specific historical periods. The paper employs a chronological and thematic framework, tracing how Gramsci’s thought was translated and developed by activist-intellectuals and trade unions during apartheid. It further explores the post-apartheid transition, investigating Gramsci-inspired analysis of neoliberal policies and the use of concepts like hegemony, civil society and, later on, passive revolution to address emerging crises and unmet expectations by the majority of the population. The study underscores Gramsci’s influence and enduring relevance in public debates and in analysing subaltern struggles and transformative potential within South African society.