Book contents
- Power and Inequality
- Studies in New Economic Thinking
- Power and Inequality
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The Colours of Power
- 2 Interpretations and Fields of Application
- 3 The Origin of Inequalities
- 4 Modern Capitalist Property and Finance
- 5 The Networks
- 6 The State
- 7 Culture and Power
- 8 The Spatial Dimension of Power
- Part II Ethical Assessments and Policy Perspectives
- References
- Index
7 - Culture and Power
from Part I - The Colours of Power
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 January 2024
- Power and Inequality
- Studies in New Economic Thinking
- Power and Inequality
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The Colours of Power
- 2 Interpretations and Fields of Application
- 3 The Origin of Inequalities
- 4 Modern Capitalist Property and Finance
- 5 The Networks
- 6 The State
- 7 Culture and Power
- 8 The Spatial Dimension of Power
- Part II Ethical Assessments and Policy Perspectives
- References
- Index
Summary
The chapter is devoted to the relationship between power and the cultural arena. The importance of public discourse, its requirements and limits, is illustrated. Gramscis notions of hegemony and dominance are applied, with modifications, to our analysis of power. The role of the masses is discussed, together with the notion of totalitarianism and the importance of culture in dictatorial regimes such as the fascist and Nazi ones. Different notions of civil society, as contrasted to the state, and its role are considered, then religion as a charismatic-traditional form of power. Technocratic knowledge leads to a discussion of the role of the elites. Specialization is counterposed to general culture, recalling the debate on the two cultures (literary culture and social culture, Snow) or the three cultures (also including the humanities) and the importance of interdisciplinary culture and research. Positive and negative aspects of the new social media (Blogs, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc.) are illustrated, with cautions against the risks of corruption of the social discourse.
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- Power and InequalityA Reformist Perspective, pp. 157 - 190Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024