Editing Neo-Marxism (section)

==== Critique of Economism ====
In an article before his imprisonment, Gramsci argued that the October Revolution in Russia showed that socialist revolution didn't have to wait for capitalism to fully develop. He believed Marxism wasn't about rigid rules but understood both economic and cultural changes as part of a larger historical process. He thought that relying on historical laws for social change was limiting, as history is shaped by human actions and willpower.

Gramsci criticized the idea of economic determinism, even among Italian trade unionists, who focused only on economic reforms and avoided political engagement. He believed the working class should aim for broader societal progress, not just improving conditions within the existing system. He called this approach "vulgar economism," which he saw as a form of covert reformism and liberalism.