Louis Althusser analyzed ideology and its role in maintaining social order. He argued that ideology is produced and reinforced through ideological state apparatuses (ISAs) like the family, education system, religion, and mass media. These ISAs train individuals to accept and perpetuate the dominant ideology, making it seem natural and neutral. This reduces the need for repressive state apparatuses like the government and military to directly enforce power through force. By influencing people's worldviews, ideology justifies and preserves existing power structures in society.

1. Louis Althusser
(ideology & the state)

2. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
IDEOLOGY
(WHAT IS IT?)

3. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
An ideology is a set of ideas that
constitute one's goals,
expectations, and actions.
An ideology is a comprehensive vision, a
way of looking at things as in several
philosophical tendencies, or a set of ideas
proposed by the dominant class of a
society to all members of this society.

4. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
• What does this word mean to you?
• What is an ideology?
• The term ideology was coined (by Claude
Destutt in 1796) to mean "the science of
ideas"
• Since then, has taken on many other
meanings
• Here are some of the most common:

5. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
#1. Value-neutral
conception
What this implies
 an individual does not have an
ideology
but an individual may reflect the
ideology of the group they are a member
of

6. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
#2. Karl Marx's definition
"False consciousness"

7. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
#3: Focus on "ideological
forms”

8. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
#4: Ideology as "material
practice”
Examples of "material practice" that
reflects ideology
taking summer holidays, giving gifts at
Christmas

9. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
I WOULD SAY…
Louis
Althusser
(1918-1990)

10. IDEOLOGY DEFINITION
These things give us
pleasure, release tensions
But ultimately they return
us to our place in the
social order
Because they
reproduce the social
conditions necessary
for capitalism to
continue

11. IDEOLOGY
What produces and maintains
(dominant) ideology in society?
 Althusser talked about "ideological state
apparatuses" (ISAs)
 Family
 Education system
 Church (religion)
 Mass media
 These ISAs "train" us to follow and perpetuate the
values and rules of the dominant classes

12. IDEOLOGY & THE STATE
ISAs vs. RSA
 Althusser: because of the power (and willingness) of
the ISAs to do the work of the powerful...
 The Repressive State Apparatus (government,
military, courts) need not use force
 The ISAs do their jobs
 And make us into good, law-abiding students,
family members, citizens, church members,
capitalists
 Who do not complain, do not try to overthrow
the government, do not try to overthrow the
bosses

13. IDEOLOGY & THE STATE
CONSEQUENTLY…
 Ideology (world-view maintained and "taught" by
the ISAs) comes to be seen as
 Natural
 Universal
 Complete
 Neutral
 Legitimate
 "common sense”

14. IDEOLOGY
In all of these definitions (except #1),
ideology is...
Meaning in the service of power
not just a value-neutral set or system of
ideas
Rather, a system that underlies, supports, and
justifies a group's
Exercise of power
Maintenance of power
Struggles for power