Learning about ideology
- Althusser calls it repressive because it uses police, incarceration, courts, and the military to control people. The repressive state apparatus is a system used through fear and threat to control law and order.
2) The ideological apparatus is shaping beliefs and thinking so that people accept societal norms. Some are schools, families, media, and religion. Instead of using force, they force you to believe you are a good, hard-working American citizen. When you’re a student, school teaches not only academics but also to respect authority.
3) The diffrence between the two is that one uses force to maintain control and the other uses ideas and culture. When used together, they work to keep society running the way it is.
4) This is Candance Owens who is a conseravtive women who believes in religion which is catholic based practices.Which makes her a ideological apparatus.
Hi Ariel,
I like how you explained the difference between the repressive and ideological state apparatus. You made it clear that one works by force and the other by shaping beliefs. I also liked your example of schools teaching both academics and respect for authority. That really shows how ideology works in daily life. Your example of Candace Owens was also interesting because it connects religion and politics. Good job!
Hey Ariel,
Your summary is spot on. Repressive controls are exercised by force, While Ideological controls are implemented through ideas. Althusser’s real insight is that they are most effective when working together. The RSAs, through coercion, the law, the police, etc, while the ISAs make most people comply willingly because it feels natural. This balance is what keeps a social system stable.
and your example of Candace Owens is great, she reinforces certain ideological norms and helps shape how her audience sees themselves.