Scholars and former political prisoners are examining the enduring relevance of Antonio Gramsci's prison writings in the context of contemporary state power.

The analysis highlights how theories developed during the rise of early 20th-century fascism apply to modern systems of policing and mass incarceration. By connecting historical state suppression to current carceral practices, the discussion argues that Gramsci's work remains a vital tool for understanding how unequal power structures are maintained.

Antonio Gramsci, an Italian Marxist theorist, was imprisoned in 1926 [1] by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. His writings from that period focused on the mechanisms of state control and the role of intellectual leadership in resisting hegemony. This historical context serves as the foundation for the current dialogue involving scholar Alberto Toscano and Mansa Musa, a former Black Panther and political prisoner.

Approximately 100 years [2] have passed since Gramsci's imprisonment, yet the participants said his insights into the suppression of dissent are still applicable. The discussion emphasizes that the methods used by Mussolini's regime to silence political opposition share structural similarities with modern policing strategies.

The dialogue specifically links the experience of political prisoners to the broader phenomenon of mass incarceration. By examining the transition from fascist imprisonment in Italy to the current state of the justice system, the scholars aim to illustrate how the state utilizes incarceration to neutralize threats to the existing social order.

Gramsci's work suggests that the state does not rely solely on force but also on cultural hegemony to maintain control. The participants said that this duality—coercion through policing and consent through cultural influence—continues to shape the relationship between the government and marginalized populations.

“Antonio Gramsci was imprisoned in 1926 by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.”

The application of Gramsci's theories to modern incarceration suggests a shift in analyzing policing not as a series of isolated failures, but as a systemic tool for maintaining political and social hegemony. By framing mass incarceration through the lens of 20th-century fascism, the analysis posits that state control is achieved through a combination of physical imprisonment and the cultural marginalization of dissent.