Passage: Antonio Gramsci's concept of 'cultural hegemony' explains how a ruling class maintains power not only through force but through the dissemination of values and beliefs that come to be seen as 'common sense.' By controlling institutions such as education, media, and religion, the dominant group secures the 'spontaneous consent' of the subordinate classes to their own exploitation. Gramsci argued that a successful revolution requires a 'war of position'—a long-term struggle to create a counter-hegemony within civil society. This involves developing an alternative set of values that challenge the status quo before a direct political takeover is attempted.