Question #1

A) Ideology is a set of beliefs, values, and ideas that shape individuals’ understanding of the world and their place within it, guiding their actions and opinions, often reflecting broader cultural narratives and evolving over time.

B) Liberalism is an ideology that promotes individual freedoms, democracy, and equality, advocating for social justice and economic opportunity. It supports policies like healthcare reforms, ensuring access to medical services for all citizens, reflecting the fundamental human right to health.

c) Ideologies play a major role in shaping political discussions and government decisions, offering people a framework to understand complicated topics such as rule, finance, and equality. Conservative beliefs prioritize tradition and stability, supporting limited government involvement and individual accountability. Socialist beliefs center on communal ownership and fair distribution of resources to tackle structural inequities. Ideologies can change to reflect new information and societal changes, as demonstrated by the emergence of environmentalism. This movement integrates ecological issues into political agendas to mirror a growing awareness of the connection between humans and nature, as well as the necessity of sustainable behaviors. 

Question #2

In the United States, conservatism and liberalism are two separate ideological structures that impact policy decisions, administration, and cultural beliefs. Conservatives stress the importance of tradition, minimal government involvement in the economy, personal freedoms, and a robust national defense, typically supporting free-market ideas and financial accountability rather than focusing on social assistance programs. On the flip side, liberals prioritize social equality, civil rights, and government intervention in dealing with social problems. Usually, they back measures to decrease economic disparity and increase availability of healthcare, education, and social services. 

The distinction between conservative and liberal ideologies can be comprehended by examining various crucial areas. Conservatives support reduced taxes and deregulation for businesses, while liberals promote progressive taxation and social programs. Conservatives adhere to traditional beliefs on social issues like abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun control, whereas liberals advocate for more progressive positions. 

Conservatives tend to support a limited government involvement in economic and personal matters, while liberals view a strong government as necessary to tackle social issues such as poverty, discrimination, and environmental problems. For instance, numerous conservatives are against universal healthcare systems or extensive government participation in healthcare delivery, claiming that these systems result in inefficiencies and higher taxes. 

Question #3

Althusser defines ideology as the framework through which individuals understand their existence and societal roles, embedded in everyday practices and institutions like education, religion, family, and media. Ideology is not an individual choice or belief system, but rather something individuals are ‘interpellated’ into, often unconsciously accepting as natural or given truths about the world.

Althusser’s idea is used in the education sector, as schools not just educate in academic topics but also impart societal norms such as discipline, respect for authority, and adherence to social standards. Students acquire the skills to navigate social hierarchies and expectations through the curriculum, interactions with teachers, and adherence to school rules. Rewards and punishments are used to emphasize the importance of obeying authority for achieving success in society. Educational institutions serve as ideological state apparatuses (ISAs) influencing individuals’ perceptions and attitudes towards their societal roles. 

Evelyn Romero Ideology

1.To my understanding ideology is how a person thinks. An individual’s beliefs and principles. An example is how an individual would live their everyday life and view things how it ought to be in society and act on it. If an individual were to break the law , not following what’s normal in society then that is when there would be punishment. Repressive apparatus would then step in and enforce.

2. The difference between conservative and liberal are that conservatives believe that with the government it is a problem and not a solution ,they do not agree on government handouts ,they also believe there should be more harsher police methods . Conservatives are more religious one might add because of just more biblical beliefs in wanting prayers in schools , God into public life. Liberals are the opposite . liberals believe the government is the solution , and supporting on wanting more assistance with the needy ,like food stamps etc . Liberals also believe that abortions should be made between the woman and doctor .

3. Althusser stated ideology is discipline. A way to keep people in line. Fear is one way to keep order using police , courts and prisons and another would possibly be religion . Not wanting to not follow order because of what you believe that the lord will punish you.

1 ) 

a)Ideology is the credence or faith that a group or person holds, is their idea of a better improved “world” . What builds the credence of a person’s political ideology could be family background ,personal life experience, and even social media.we all live our lives with ideologies that were implanted from our parents or closer family members .In short words Ideology is the way you see and comprehend some situations in your daily life or from a political perspective.

b) In my opinion one example of ideology can be a religious person’s beliefs because these religious beliefs can shape this person’s morals,behavior,and influence their everyday life .Religions are carried by larger groups of  people with the same beliefs and goals .In some religions their ideologies are so strong that they proudly believe that only their beliefs are “adequate” or correct and due to this religion leans more towards a conservative political perspective; but also many hispanics that are catholic lean more towards liberalism ideology because of their economic situations.

c)The monarchy is the perfect example of a conservative political ideology because they are more discreet and for centuries have kept the family concept  their priority; that discretion that American conservatives want .On the other hand liberalism are more “open minded” or we can say “more accepting” of different ideas that give limited freedom.From what i’ve learned in different government classes i understand that liberalism is no longer that empowering “we’re equal” ideology anymore due to the economy and the new democrat party but now it’s more about choosing the “safest” option out of fear just like Althusser explained in his video.

2)

The dividing line between conservative and liberal political ideology is the economic system because liberal ideology depends more on the government while conservative ideology consists of believing that the government only harms the country and low income families will be alright with private charities for funds. conservative political ideology is considered a more “traditional” political ideology because their biggest motive is to converse the most “moral values” by banning abortion to have more nuclear families and keeping religions a priority  .Liberal political ideology is the most common specially for low income families because they believe the government can give them enough help if done properly; liberal ideologist believe that we all deserve equality .

3)

In my understanding Althusser believes that people just consider truthful anything they hear out of fear. Althusser described  that the government “brainwash “ people into thinking they have a choice ;for example with political parties the government make media debates to make people think that they’re against each other.In America there’s no such things as a “second” party if everything behind it it’s the same goal .

Ideology is a system of ideas and beliefs that shape how people see the world and how they think society should work. It forms their opinions on politics, the economy, and social issues. Ideologies help people decide what is right or wrong, and what changes they think are needed in society. For instance, a conservative ideology might focus on policies that promote family values, uphold traditional social structure, and prioritize law and order. This could involve supporting policies like reduced government intervention in the economy, advocating for lower taxes, emphasizing strong law enforcement and strict criminal justice policies. One example of traditional social structure is gender ideology. Cultural beliefs for girls and women. Men are expected to perform breadwinning activities, while women are expected to perform caretaking activities at home such as cooking and cleaning. Ideology goes beyond political or social beliefs; it serves as a mindset that organizes how we interpret reality and guide our actions. It operates subtly, often shaping our worldview without us being fully aware of its influence. Ideology is taught. It’s taught at home, online, religious gatherings and school. For example, our parents and government teach us that if we go against the law we will be punished. The values we are taught are to prevent us from going against the norm.

The main difference between conservatives and liberal ideology in US politics is  how each views the role of government and individual freedoms. Conservatives generally believe in limited government intervention, particularly in the economy, and emphasize personal responsibility, traditional values, and a free market approach. They often advocate for lower taxes, less regulation, and more individual autonomy. On the other hand, liberals support a more active role for the government in addressing societal inequalities, promoting social welfare programs, and regulating the economy to protect vulnerable populations. They tend to emphasize social justice, environmental protection, and civil liberties. An example of this can be seen in debates over healthcare. Liberals tend to support universal healthcare systems, arguing that government intervention is necessary to ensure that all citizens have access to medical services, regardless of their ability to pay. In contrast, conservatives often argue that healthcare should remain private, with limited government involvement, allowing competition to drive down costs and increase quality.

Althusser defined ideology as a system of ideas and representations that help people make sense of the world and their place in it. He argues that ideology is deeply embedded in everyday life and is promoted through various social structures like schools, media and religious organizations.  These institutions don’t just teach facts but instill values and norms that align with the interest of those in power. An example of Althusser’s concept of ideology can be seen in the way the education systems promote the value of hard work and individual achievement. Schools often emphasize that success is a result of personal effort and determination, encouraging students to strive for their best. While this can be motivating, it also supports the idea that people who are less successful simply didn’t work hard enough. This belief can make social and economic inequalities seem natural and justified.

1.ideology is basically a culmination of values, beliefs and ideas that­­­ shape how individuals and or groups in society interpret society and their world around them. Many groups can have a direct impact on how you draw inferences of your ideology which include social, political, economic, or even culturally. All these groups can have a profound influence on your decision making which ultimately creates your life and worldviews. Two common ideologies most people of today’s society may classify with is liberal and conservative ideologies.

2. As we have come to learn in life, no two things are the same. This case is also true when referring to conservative and liberal ideologies. On the one hand conservative ideology suggests that the large government poses a threat to our individual liberty. They believe in the free market and that everyone has the same 24 hours in the day. In other words, if you are poor and working in the middle class it’s because your either lazy or incapable and it has nothing to do with the actual government. Yet relies on the government to govern anything that can be a threat to their well beings and or wealth, i.e harsher prison sentences, monitoring and surveillance of others less fortunate than them and to protect the assists to their capitalist world views. Also, they believe in a strong defense and support money being poured into the military. Liberals however believe and lean into the aid of the government and firmly believe that they’re here to serve a purpose helping solve societal issues. Liberals understand that the free market the conservatives love so much in fact won’t be fair to everyone. Liberals cherish equality and have deep rooted beliefs in government intervention.

3. Louis Althusser, a French Marxist philosopher, offers a nuanced and influential definition of ideology. There were two apparatus he believed which are Repressive state apparatus and Ideological state apparatus. According to Althusser, ideology is more than just a set of ideas or beliefs it’s an integrated system that plays a crucial role in maintaining social structures and power relations. Althusser uses the concept of interpellation to explain how ideology “hails” or “calls” individuals into social roles. Through interpellation, individuals are positioned within ideological frameworks that define their identity and social function. This process helps individuals recognize themselves as part of a social structure and adhere to its norms and values.

I understood ideology to be an individual’s belief system according to political socialization. Political socialization is essentially the basis by which an individual determines their political stance. There are many factors that influence political socialization; a prominent factor being family. It’s evident that a child’s relationship with their parents can possibly influence their political views. For example, a child who had a generally healthy upbringing will most likely adopt the same political views as their parents while a child who grew up in a toxic household will rebel against their parent’s political views. However, most children grow up to adopt the same political views as their parents. Another crucial factor that affects political socialization is one’s social identity. This includes aspects such as; race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and age. It’s been noted that men are considered to have more conservative views while female values tend to be more liberal. Economic self interest is also a component in determining political stance. An individual is most likely going to align with values that benefit themselves.

Most American’s resonate between two political ideologies. This first includes the Conservative (Right) point of view, while the second includes the Liberal (Left) stance. Conservatism believes in having the smallest government possible. It is said that a large government poses a threat to individual liberty. Instead, conservatives believe in stronger individual state power rather than allocating all strength to the federal government. In doing so, they claim that lower government spending results in lower taxes. Additionally, involvement in the free market and little regulation of big businesses are components of conservative beliefs. Conservatives also believe in having a strong military therefore the government should designate much of their budget to supporting military spending. Traditional values are a crucial forefront to the conservative agenda, specifically Christian values. On the other hand, Liberalism praises a big central government. Much of liberalism was inspired by New Deal policies. Liberalists consider the government to be responsible for social and environmental issues in order to ensure the well-being of all individuals and the planet. The liberal agenda opposes heavy military spending and support tighter gun control. Instead, liberalists believe that government spending should be allocated towards minority groups and that heavier taxes should be placed on the wealthy. Although liberalists support a big government, they do not believe the government should interfere with peoples personal lives. A prominent personal issue that liberalists oppose government involvement in is the right to abortion. Government disengagement in the free market and regulation of big businesses is a key principle of liberalism.

Althusser’s definition of ideology stems from the roots of capitalism. He describes how individuals believe in principles subconsciously due to repressive and ideological intervention. The repressive component is simply described as fear. This includes the implementation of police, prisons, and courts so that people’s beliefs may align with the things that while keep them away from punishment (whether subjectively right or wrong). The ideological principle is broken down into several subcategories describes as apparatuses. These apparatuses trick the individual into investing their intellectually energy into areas that wont make a difference but give them a sense of belonging. In turn, this sense of belonging promotes subservience and obedience (breeds docile individuals). The consumer apparatus entails dressing or owning specific articles to identify with a certain social group. For example, wearing glasses and dressing preppy eludes to the individual belonging to a higher social class while articles of clothing such as ripped jeans imply otherwise. Rather than someone’s income determining social class, a falsified illusion is brought about by materialistic items. Instead of finding ways to elevate in social class (make more money), an individual will feel richer than they are through materialism, therefore not finding the need to elevate, in turn remaining docile. Another apparatus discussed in the entertainment apparatus. The average worker is more likely to identify as a sports fan rather than a worker. Because this worker identifies as a “sports fan”, they will rather attend games than to come together with other workers to protest for higher wages and better rights. By shifting one’s identity to something more entertaining, people are less likely to focus on what really matters. The last apparatus discussed was the school apparatus. This entails the concept that we are subconsciously taught as children what we should believe. Five days a week, 8 hours a day; the school system implements into our heads what should be considered wrong and what should be considered right. The mind of a child is like a sponge, constantly absorbing the stimuli of its environment.

So, we’ve encountered three different overviews of what ideology is, but let’s organize our own thinking about it. In this discussion board, think about and comment on the following questions:

1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in your own words.
Hint: One way to approach this is as follows
a) Describe what ideology is in a brief paragraph (in your own words).
b) Give an example illustrating what you wrote in (a).
c) Write another paragraph (or two), explaining to your reader with additional details, how you understand ideology.

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.
Hint: try to identify key words (concepts) that play a big role in making someone consider themselves to be liberal or conservative. Then, explain in your own words what those keywords (concepts) mean.

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. Hint: you may have to watch the second video again, and find the few places where Althusser’s position is presented.

Hint: Remember, the discussion boards are crucial for us this semester, because they reproduce our in-class conversations. Try to be thorough and write more, rather than less. I will do the same, and make sure by the time we end our discussion, we have covered the key ideas on the module.

To organize things better, I have broken up our conversation into two parts. After finishing here, head over to Discussion Board 3 – part 2 .

Before posting, watch this video, which will show you how to post your answer to this discussion board:

NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.

As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:

1. Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
2. Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
3. Type your response
4. On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 3.1”
5. Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
6. Click Publish and you’re done.

What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.

Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.