1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in YOUR OWN WORDS.
-To me, Ideology is a personal set of beliefs, values, and ideas that someone has that affects the way they personally view the world. Everyone, to an extent has their own “ideology” to which they align with and see the world in a certain lens, which is the reason that although most people have similar morals, everyone has their own view on what is good and bad in the world. For example, if we were to use something like political ideology, different people have different views (whether it be something like democracy, socialism, liberal, conservative) that shape the way that individual personally believes the government should be run. Some people believe in more of a conservative, traditional set of values, while other people believe in a more liberal progressive change, and both have different ideologies which make them see the world differently and affect what they see as right and wrong.

2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seem to be the big differences, the dividing line? Given an example to backup your arguments.
-The difference between conservative and liberal ideology is the way they believe that the government should be run. Liberals believe in things like progressive change, heavily support the LGBTQ+ community, support abortion rights, believe in a bigger government to take care of social issues. Conservatives on the other hand have completely different ideals, they believe in more traditional values, smaller government, and don’t support things like free health care for Americans.

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. -Althusser says that ideology is a system of both belief and ideas that shape the way they personally see the world. He uses examples that there are many different ways that ideology works through things like religion, media, and school, who all teach people what is right and wrong, and teaches individuals to accept certain values. For example, someone who grows up in a catholic household, and goes to catholic school all their lives will have a very different outlook of life (ideology) than someone who goes to regular school and grows up in a non religious household.

1.Ideology is a set of ideas and beliefs that affect how people think about and interpret the world. It helps shape opinions on various topics like politics, society, and personal values. One example is two people debating the use of social media. One person might believe social media is a good thing that  helps us connect with others and stay updated, while the other might think it creates distractions, spreads misinformation, and harms mental health. Their differing views reflect their ideologies about technology and communication: one sees social media as a positive force, while the other views it as a negative influence. Their beliefs shape how they use or avoid social media and how they think others should interact with it.

2. There is a big difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics. Liberal ideology believes that the government can solve all their problems and on the other hand conservative don’t want anything to do with the government in their business. For example in the first he said “American liberals believe that the government can help solve problems and a bigger government like a glorious soaring eagle can solve bigger problems and more.” More like higher taxes, minorities, women and the poor and equality. Also from the first video he said “ American conservatives believe that a large government poses a threat to individual liberty, and we prefer our national government to be as small as possible.” So this is saying that American Liberals strongly team up with the government and want all support from them. Well, American conservative don’t really want anything to do with the government and if they do need to team up they rather have a small party with them and not a larger one like the American liberals .

3. I understand that ideology has a slightly different meaning now. Ideology has to do with reinforced and approved behaviors. One example that Althusser said in the video was “In the 20th century the concept of ideology changes and tones have a slightly different meaning. Ideology still means accepting beliefs that you believe without consciously knowing you believe them but here they are reinforced through expected and approved behaviors to make you a good subject and a future cog in a capitalist economy- so this would be more than capitalist ideology. Louis Althusser deFined two tapes of apparatus that controlled behavior. The first is called the repressive apparatus which controls you through the threat of violence including police, courts and prisons.But fear is not the primary motivator in most of our lives. As it turns out, being normal, being accepted, and belonging to a group are just as strong motivators. Here is where ideological apparatuses do most of the work so that the poles and courts only need to step in when they Fail to put people in their place. Ideological state apparatuses prevent change to the status quo and include schools, politics, and the mass media.” Althusser is saying now we have reinforced the system with police, courts and prisons. Our behaviors can lead us in coming across the police or get taken to court and lastly end up in prison. Ideology still has the same meaning just with prop up.

1. Ideology is a collection of ideas, beliefs, and values that people hold that affect their ways of interpreting reality and making choices. It is a concept that people or organizations use to make sense of social, political, and economic phenomena. Ideologies run very much on a discourse level and inform how an individual would approach government, economics, social justice, and freedom.An example of ideology is a belief in the free market economy, which requires limited state involvement in the business sphere. Skeptics of this ideology believe people should be allowed to satisfy their self-interests because doing so will yield the most economic gains (Parenti, 2011). This belief system is evident in policies that advocate for less regulation, taxation, and spending on public welfare since the free market can better address these problems.Ideology only dictates how people perceive the world around them. It offers a perspective from which societies’ structures are filtered, assessed, and often judged. Ideologies are often used to reduce the immense complexity of society into narratives that are more inclined to specific values (CrashCourse, 2015). For instance, if the person holds conservative values, they might perceive welfare programs as defying self-reliance, while a socialist might see them as applicable to decreasing injustice. Ideologies influence decision-making processes, policies, and discussions in all spheres of social life.
2. In the United States, conservative and liberal ideologies represent two major political stances. Conservative ideology presupposes that people should take personal responsibility for their choices, the government should be minimally involved in people’s and society’s affairs, and the free-market economy is the most effective. They also support national defense, anti-immigration sentiment, and property rights while vehemently opposing programs like universal healthcare for citizens, claiming it leads to bureaucracy (Parenti, 2011). On the other hand, liberals advocate for an enhanced participatory government in social responsibility and addressing the needs of citizens via health, learning, and welfare (CrashCourse, 2015). They highlight individual freedom, environmentalism, and equality; they consider health care a fundamental human right. Liberal values include equality and government regulation, while freedom and responsibility are conservative values.
3. Ideology, according to Althusser, is a structural complex that serves as an ideological state apparatus that controls the minds of a specific social class through ideas and representations. In his opinion, ideology is a tool that supports the dominance of the ruling class in a capitalist society by establishing norms that perpetuate it (PlasticPills, 2019). In Althusser’s view, ideology is implicit primarily, working through such agencies of repression as the immediate family, schools, and the mass media, which help to construct subjects who ‘know their place’ in the social order and how to behave accordingly. An example of Althusser’s ideology is the education system, which, according to him, is aimed at molding members of society to fit a particular mode of being and become productive units in a capitalist economy. They consider that, as schools instill respect for authority, compliance with rules, and concerning achievement within the established economic architecture, they act as ‘ideological state apparatuses.’ Thus, one can see that through such institutions, people imbibe the ideology necessary for a capitalist society, which occurs unconsciously.

1. To me ideology is sets of beliefs that shapes how someone views or understands the world from what influences them. This can change the way they view political, cultural views and economic views. Ideology also provides individuals with guidance on how things should be organized based of what they believe in. An example that shows ideology shaping people’s views and differences is socialism and capitalism. Socialism seeks to create an equal society by having the government or community control and distribute resources while capitalism is an economic system where people own and control resources. Ideology provides guiding principles that helps people choose their stance with views in life. Everyone’s ideology is different from what they believe is right and how society should be organized.
2. I believe the dividing line between conservatives and liberal ideology is that conservatives prefers limited government involvement when it comes to the economy. They also prefer to reduce government spending while liberals prefer the government to be more active in addressing social situations like providing services to individuals. One example that could be use is the different views they see in healthcare.
3. Althusser believed that certain things like the media and school influenced people understanding on the social system and their behaviors towards it. For example schools may teach us certain things in order to change our views on different things.

1. In my view, Ideology is a set of beliefs, ideas, and values that people often use to identify someone’s political position, economic position, or societal preferences. The term ideology best describes why and when people tend to act in their best interests. Why do people sometimes take the initiative, and why sometimes don’t? Ideology helps people understand how individuals or groups view such components as culture, society, and power. It’s built on the idea of how a society should function. Ideologies influence social and political action by providing the “right” method to address issues such as justice, freedom, equality, and power.

 An example of Ideology can be stated as “Liberalism.” Liberalism values individual liberty, democratic governance, the rule of law, and free markets. It promotes personal liberty, such as freedom of speech and religion, while also supporting democratic institutions that originate political authority from the people. Economic liberalism advocates for little government intervention in the economy, believing that free markets produce wealth. The concept also emphasizes equal opportunity and human rights.

Among the types of Ideology, Political Ideologies, Economical Ideologies, and Cultural or social Ideologies come first on the list. Ideologies influence people’s voting behavior and political debates or guide public policies. While ideas can provide leadership and unity, they may also be accused of being too harsh or dogmatic. People or movements that support a certain ideology may resist change or exaggerate complicated social and political issues.

2. Conservative Ideology:  The Conservative ideology is basically highlighting its emphasis on self-reliance and property rights, where poverty is seen as a personal failing rather than a result of economic inequality. Here, they advocate for a minimal government, but they also want strong regulations. By strong regulation, they support severe prison sentences and more vigorous use of the death penalty and also support bans on gay marriage. They treat economic recession as a part of a natural cycle. They prefer the exportation of labor for a cheaper labor market. The conservatives tend to be more patriotic than the liberal ones.

Liberal Ideology: Liberal ideology emphasizes the rule of law, equality, and individual freedom. It supports equal rights for all, democratic governance with accountability, and individual liberties like freedom of expression and religion. While liberty in the economy and limited government are valued by classical liberalism, modern liberalism supports the state’s active role in ensuring social justice, controlling the market, and resolving inequalities in sectors such as healthcare, education, and human rights. Along with secularism, human rights, tolerance, and a diverse society that values diversity and forward-thinking social development, liberals also support these factors.

Conservative philosophy focuses on upholding cultural norms and encouraging individual responsibility while emphasizing tradition, stability, and minimal government involvement. Liberal ideology, on the other hand, prioritizes social progress, equality, and individual liberties. It frequently supports government intervention in resolving inequality and advancing social justice. Liberals support reform, diversity, and increased government involvement in social and economic issues, while conservatives often favor gradual change, free markets, and traditional values.

3. Louis Althusser defined two types of apparatus that shape Ideology. One of them is called the Repressive State apparatus, and the other is called the Ideological State apparatus. The repressive state apparatus is based on people’s fear and controls people through the threats of police, courts, and prison. However, that fear cannot always move people away from their ideology. Sometimes, people are motivated by normal factors like being accepted or being a part of a group and being recognized. These are called Ideological state apparatuses. The repressive apparatus only steps in when the ideological apparatus fails to prevent people’s changes.

Althusser’s theory of ideology focuses on how societal institutions, known as Ideological State Apparatuses, maintain the ruling class’s power by transforming people’s beliefs and behaviors. This makes people accept their social roles and the existing social order as normal. Unlike theories that view ideology just as a set of beliefs, Althusser sees it as a material practice deeply embedded in daily life that contributes to maintaining capitalist society’s institutions.

In the case of examples of Louis Althusser’s Ideology example, we can come up with the example of the repressive state apparatus, which are courts, prisons, and police; and at the same time, the example of an ideological state apparatus can be defined as a school where children are being raised in a culture of obeying the rules and regulations. They also receive punishments if they do not comply with the law, such as not bringing homework, which can lead them to teacher coercion.

1. Ideology is a collection of values, ideas, opinions and beliefs that forms the way a group of people perceive the world, and how they think society should be. Ideology helps it followers shape their views on various important issues such as government, politics, culture, ethical, social and economic issues. Additionally, ideology can guide people how to act to bring the changes they wish to see in these various important issues. The more common types of political Ideologies include liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism and communism, but in my opinion, we shouldn’t narrow it down to just these because some ideologies can be derivatives of another ideology.

For example, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) is an ideology that is a derivative of the conservative Republican Ideology which refers to President Trump supporters. It oftentimes includes extreme right-wing ideas that include policies related to strict immigration control, Conservative Social Values and supporting false news and conspiracy theories mostly in regards to the Democratic party and liberal organizations (https://www.britannica.com/topic/MAGA-movement) .

The January 6 United States Capitol attack demonstrates how far people are willing to go to change what their ideology tells them is wrong. For these MAGA ideology followers, the 2020 elections were stolen, and they must act to protect democracy even in the cost of storming and raiding one of the most important USA democracy institutions. Another examples of how this ideology was used is the anti-trans laws across the U.S. and the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, nominated by President Trump, which later led overturn of Roe v Wade, that protected the right to abortion under Federal Law.

2. In my opinion, the differences between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics is in the way each ideology believe the government and American society should act.

Conservative Ideology focus on limited government, individual freedom and tradition, and include:

•  smaller government that is best handled by states and localities with less regulations so the public will have more freedom to make their own decisions.
• Less intervention in the public life in addition to believing individuals should take responsibility for their own live.
• Lower taxes.
• National security, strong national defense and strong military.
• Traditional family structure.

Liberal Ideology focus on involved government, equality and social change and include:

• Large governments that is active in solving social and economic problems, such as healthcare, education, and income inequality.
• The government should help to provide basic needs to the public, in the form of healthcare, education and unemployment benefits.
• Higher taxes for the rich to support the funding of public and social services.
• Diplomacy over military
• Progressive values and supporting change in social issues, like equal rights, reproductive rights, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental issues.

3. To my understanding, Althusser’s definition of ideology is a set of idea, opinions and believes intuitions (churches, schools, media, governments etc.) are using to shape people views and actions about the world, often without realizing that and even if it’s against their interests. For example, a girl who grow up in a town where majority of the people consider themselves to be conservatives most likely to grow up to be conservative as well because of the ideas, opinions and believes she absorbed in school, by the local government and by her Sunday church sermon. Now, let’s pretend this girl comes as a trans man, starts transitioning in August 2025, and plans to vote for the republican party in the 2024, although he knows about Project 2025 that that it will prevent him rights and access to gender affirming care.

1.Ideology can be viewed as a guiding set of principles or beliefs that shape the way individuals or groups perceive the world and their place within it. It can encompass a wide range of beliefs, from political ideologies that govern systems of government and economic structures, to cultural ideologies that shape societal norms and values. Political ideologies such as capitalism, communism, socialism, and Marxism are commonly recognized examples of ideologies that influence the way societies are organized and governed. These ideologies often have specific beliefs about the role of government, the distribution of wealth, and the rights and responsibilities of individuals within society.However, not all ideologies are explicitly political in nature. Cultural ideologies, for example, can encompass beliefs about gender roles, family structures, and moral values that shape the way individuals interact with each other and understand the world around them.

2.The contrast between conservative and liberal ideologies in U.S. politics lies in their perspectives on government involvement, social values, and individual versus collective responsibility. Conservatives support limited government intervention, free markets, lower taxes, and personal responsibility. lower taxes, and personal responsibility.

3.Louis Althusser defines ideology as a system of beliefs that shape how people perceive reality. He argues that it is not simply false ideas imposed on society, but a subtle and pervasive force embedded in institutions and daily life.

1. Understanding Ideology

Ideology is a system of beliefs and values that shapes our understanding of the world and guides our behavior and worldview. An example of ideology is capitalism.
Capitalism is an ideology that supports free markets and individual success as the path to prosperity. Ideologies also influence our concepts of right and wrong, shaped by culture and experience.

2. Conservative and Liberal Ideology in US Politics

Conservatives prioritize tradition, personal responsibility, and limited government intervention. Liberals focus on equality and social justice, advocating for “government responsibility” to reduce inequality.

3. Althusser’s Definition of Ideology

Althusser believed that ideology consists of subconscious ideas we live by, which reinforce existing social structures.
Schools not only provide knowledge but also instill the values of the dominant ideology, such as respect for authority, maintaining the status quo unnoticed by people.