1. a) What is ideology? I believe ideology is a set of beliefs and values that people use to perceive the world. Ideology is a system that people can use to describe their political and social stances. Several factors such as parental involvement, schooling and society play roles into shaping one’s ideology.

1. b) Example illustrating ideology: An example of illustrating ideology can be the way people view the involvement of government in the society. People delving towards conservative ideology believe the government should not intervene in the market economy as it limits freedom whereas people with liberal ideology believe in state-owned enterprises which provide equal and fair opportunities to the labor market.

1. c) Understanding ideology: Ideology goes beyond just a set of ideas; it’s a notion that can modify societies and even cultures. It provides a framework for how people view the world around them, often influencing political policies and personal beliefs. People may not always be conscious of their ideologies, as they are often deeply embedded in the culture, institutions, and traditions they grow up in. Ideology can justify social systems, like capitalism or socialism, and play a crucial role in maintaining the status quo or advocating for change. It also serves to unite people under a common cause or belief system, but it can sometimes lead to division when competing ideologies clash.

2. The difference between conservative and liberal ideology in U.S. politics: U.S. conservatism focuses on individual freedoms with a lower involvement of government in society and right wing measures in the economy. Conservatives generally support a limited role of government, preferring individual responsibility, traditional values and an economy based on free enterprise. They generally speak, however, by referring to the necessity of order in society, of individual liberties, and of security of the State. Conservatives, for instance, may oppose extensive government programs and support tax cuts to incentivize economic growth. Conservatives prefer less government intervention in economy, while liberals call for an active government involvement. Liberals tend to support social safety net programs, government policies to protect the environment, and government policies for social justice and equality. This, for example, may manifest as support for universal healthcare or policies aimed at decreasing economic inequality. Somewhere between the generality of the two ideologies is the abstract idea of authority in the role of government and right of the individual. Liberals align with ideas stressing social equality and community responsibility, whereas conservatives cling to the notion of personal freedom and limited government action.

3. Althusser’s definition of ideology: According to Althusser, ideology functions as a mechanism by which a system of beliefs and practices structures the way in which individuals perceive the world and the place they occupy within it. But ideology is not just a system of ideas; it also operates as a “material practice” that shapes how people live, think and behave. It is not just abstract beliefs that serve as ideology, but also how people are “interpellated” or “hailed” into social roles through institutions and media and other social forces. Less abstractly, ideology serves its believers as a lens through which they view not only themselves but their peers as well. For instance, they may have been raised in a culture that valued individual success, internalizing the belief that one’s future rests largely on one’s own effort. This belief acts as an ideological lens they use to define their life and success. While this ideology is not taught in a traditional sense, it is embedded within society, within the institutions like the family, the media, the schools, which teach an individual to see the world in a certain way.