Overcoming the “stronghold” of civil society against the Brazilian revolution

Abstract

Brazil, like other societies with relatively developed capitalism, faces the opposition of civil society to revolution, a phenomenon theorized by Antonio Gramsci. This paper seeks strategies to overcome this opposition by exami- ning the organic relationship between civil society and the State. According to Gramsci, the State possesses broad powers to adapt civil society to material reality, thereby leading to its alignment with the capitalist system in societies where the State is dominated by the bourgeoisie. Drawing on Clara Mattei’s studies, the article identifies how state control over the economy during the First World War eliminated the distance between economic and political life, opening up pathways for challenging capitalism. Thus, it proposes expanding the State’s role in directing the economy. From Célio Turino’s experiences with the Cultura Viva program, which recognizes and supports cultural groups wi- thin a paradigm that values their autonomy and interconnectedness, the article derives a tactical approach to public policies under governments led by revo- lutionary forces. It argues that such governments should emphasize the State’s educational role by designing policies that strengthen and legitimize popular and democratic groups within civil society while fostering their capacity for political organization and coordination. The ultimate objective is to empower the anti-capitalist sectors of civil society, thereby breaking the stronghold of neoliberal hegemony.