New leadership, Cultural soft power and Cultural discourse powerThe discourse reconstruction of cultural hegemony in the post political era

The theoretical evolution of cultural hegemony highlights the reconstruction of cultural discourse in the post-political era. With the rise of diversified forms of struggle and the transformation of global governance paradigms, political practice has gradually shifted from traditional class confrontation models to the operation of power within cultural, social, and discursive dimensions. Antonio Gramsci’s concept of "cultural hegemony" and its foundational logic of class struggle have gradually waned, giving way to more flexible theoretical frameworks such as "neo-hegemony," "cultural soft power," and "cultural discourse power" in both academic and political discourses. Concurrently, the development of digital media has intensified the shifting terrain of cultural hegemony, as discursive power diffuses from state ideological apparatuses to social media and online platforms, fostering a decentralized competitive landscape. The rapid dissemination of mass culture not only amplifies cultural influence but also introduces ideological risks. The emergence of cultural populism and depoliticization trends pose new challenges to the construction of national cultural soft power. In response to this transformation, it is imperative to harness the creative potential of mass culture while maintaining ideological leadership to consolidate the state’s dominance in cultural discourse.