Why did Gramsci say Party a modern Prince
Gramsci referred to the party as a "modern Prince" to evoke the concept introduced by Niccolò Machiavelli in his work "The Prince." Machiavelli argued that a Prince, as a singular figure, is necessary to unite and govern a state effectively. Similarly, Gramsci saw the political party as a modern incarnation of this concept, particularly in the context of revolutionary struggle.
For Gramsci, the party served as the vanguard of the working class, organizing and leading the masses in their struggle against capitalist domination. Like the Prince, the party was tasked with providing strategic direction, fostering unity, and articulating the interests of the proletariat. It functioned as a cohesive force capable of challenging the hegemony of the ruling class and ultimately leading the proletariat to seize political power.
In essence, Gramsci saw the party as a central agent of revolutionary change, analogous to Machiavelli's Prince in its role as a unifying and guiding force in the pursuit of transformative social and political goals.