The Element of “Passion” in Politics: Indignation and Sarcasm in the Writings of Antonio Gramsci

Abstract

Even though the term “indignation” does not appear often in Gramsci’s writings, both before and during his imprisonment, the attitude of indignant rejection of injustice represents for him the starting point for political action aimed at remedying it. This attitude is distinguished from both the fatalistic and lazy acceptance of the existing order (indifference), from apolitical and wishful rebelliousness, and from escape into utopia, towards which Gramsci shows the same “passionate sarcasm” that he attributes to Marx.