Resumen

COUTINHO, Carlos Nelson. Party, Actuality and Universality in Gramsci. Utopìa y Praxis Latinoamericana [online]. 2007, vol.12, n.37, pp.11-33. ISSN 1315-5216.

The political thought of Antonio Gramsci has not lost relevance and validity in its interpretation and criticism of the modern capitalist State. His theoretical and practical contributions are many, but this work intends to highlight his interesting concept of the political party as a “modern Prince,” as a group, social and collective “intellectual” at the service of constructing a liberating social conscience of popular will. This study also presents what “socialism” represented for Gramsci, the project of a regulated society that is built progressively among all its citizens, and “radical democracy,” which he understands as an ethical-political action that generates a new social hegemony (of the public over the private) that is more consensual and less coercive.

Palabras clave : Gramsci; party; democracy; socialism.