The essay calls on the Gramscian concept of 'organic intellectual'—who introduces new ideas or theories in society and transforms them into current social practice—to portray the lifelong struggle of Philip Alston for human rights and more particularly his efforts at buttressing and mainstreaming economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights. These efforts follow what looks like a three-prong strategy aiming at: (a) heightening the efficiency of the institutional framework within which they are further elaborated, and their implementation monitored, through better communication, coordination, and harmonization of the work of diverse UN family organs that deal with them; (b) shedding light on their intrinsic legal characteristics and the legal means to effectuate and protect them, thus rendering these rights and corresponding obligations more palpable, hence operable and justiciable; and (c) exposing egregious violations and deprivation of ESC rights and their causes which can be traced back to certain current macroeconomic policies—together with a constant effort at dissemination and outreach, particularly through important press coverage, to public opinion at large.