Politics does not begin in parliaments or policy documents. It begins in culture—shaped by art, media, language, and the deeper narratives that structure how we see the world. This is the essence of metapolitics, the battle to define the ideological conditions that make political power possible.
Metapolitics operates at a level beyond traditional political action, focusing instead on shaping the cultural, intellectual, and philosophical underpinnings of a society. It’s about establishing what is considered common sense, setting the terms of political debate before elections are even held.
The idea is simple: if you change how people think, you change how they vote, govern, and live. The practice of metapolitics involves influencing media, academia, entertainment, and online discourse to shift societal norms and expectations. While this may sound abstract, it has very real consequences—entire political movements have risen and fallen based on their success or failure in the metapolitical arena.
Metapolitical strategies have been central to movements on both the left and the right, often deployed by those seeking systemic change rather than incremental reform.
Leftist Metapolitics: Culture as a Revolutionary Front
Antonio Gramsci, a key Marxist thinker, argued that political change required cultural hegemony—the dominance of progressive values in education, media, and intellectual spaces before political power could be seized.
The Frankfurt School and later theorists, such as Stuart Hall, emphasized how ideology is embedded in popular culture, shaping mass consciousness in ways that reinforce or challenge capitalist structures.
Contemporary leftist movements (climate activists, labor organizers, and social justice advocates) recognize that changing laws is insufficient; changing minds and cultural expectations must come first.
Right-Wing Metapolitics: Shifting the Overton Window
The European New Right, led by Alain de Benoist, sought to redefine right-wing ideology not through elections but by injecting nationalist and reactionary ideas into cultural discourse.
Steve Bannon, openly embraces metapolitical tactics, prioritizing narrative warfare over policy battles to shift public attitudes in favor of populist nationalism.
The Alt-Right and reactionary online movements have weaponized internet culture, using memes, irony, and digital communities to normalize once-fringe political positions.
Contemporary Metapolitical Struggles
Right now, we are in a period of intense metapolitical struggle. The battle for the dominant cultural narrative is raging across social media, news platforms, and entertainment. Consider a few current trends:
AI and the Information Struggle: As artificial intelligence reshapes communication, control over digital discourse becomes even more important. Who owns the algorithms that curate information? Who decides which political and cultural narratives are amplified or suppressed?
Legitimacy Crises and Trust Erosion: Many traditional institutions—governments, universities, media—are losing credibility. In this vacuum, new power brokers are emerging, from influencers to digital currencies, all fighting to establish their own cultural authority.
The Return of Ideological Extremes: As economic and political crises mount, ideological extremes gain traction. What was unthinkable a decade ago—mainstream fascist rhetoric, open class warfare—now feels increasingly normalized.
With that in mind, what can we expect?
Increased Cultural Fragmentation: As legacy media declines, fragmented digital subcultures will become more politically influential. Traditional political parties will struggle to contain this decentralized ideological landscape.
A Struggle Between Inclusivity and Xenophobia: The forces of progress and reaction are colliding in new ways. On one side, movements advocating for pluralism, social justice, and multiculturalism are gaining traction. On the other, reactionary forces seeking to consolidate power through nationalism, exclusion, and fear-mongering are pushing back. This battle will shape policy, elections, and cultural discourse worldwide.
Radical Shifts in Political Legitimacy: With declining trust in institutions, alternative governance models—mutual aid networks, decentralized communities, and direct-action movements—will gain power. The question of who gets to rule will be increasingly metapolitical, shaped by cultural rather than purely legal authority.
Metapolitics teaches us that political power is not simply about laws, elections, or governments. It is about shaping the ideas that define our reality. Whether through media, education, or digital platforms, the forces shaping our world are primarily cultural. To understand where society is headed, look to the cultural sphere—because that is where the future is already being written.
