Authors:

Arpan Bhattacharya

Abstract:

This paper studies how populism, religious extremism, and environmentalism work together using Gramsci's idea of "common sense." Gramsci's theory further helps us understand how dominant ideologies form and sustain themselves in different historical and cultural situations. We are seeing how popular politics and religious extremism come together to make people think that economic growth and identity-based thinking are only natural, which often pushes environmental issues to the side. Religion actually works as a cultural tool that becomes part of how communities think, and it definitely connects with popular ideas to make people feel they belong and know who they are. Environmentalism actually becomes a cultural fight where people must definitely change their own thinking to shift what society sees as normal. Organic intellectuals actually play a key role by definitely introducing new stories that focus on how nature connects everything, fair treatment for all, and shared responsibility. We are seeing that talks about privilege and identity are very important to understand how different social groups only experience and take in dominant beliefs. The paper argues that we need strong actions against powerful groups, and only organic intellectuals, communities, and movements working for environmental and social freedom can make real change happen.

Keywords:

common sense, organic intellectuals, populism, environmentalism

Vol & Issue:

VOL.17, ISSUE No.4, December 2025