1. What is ideology?

To me, ideology is basically a set of beliefs or ideas that shape how people view the world. It influences how we think about life, government, and what’s right or wrong in society. A lot of times, we don’t even realize we’re being influenced by it because it’s been around us since we were kids, through school, religion, parents, and even social media.

For example, someone who believes poor people should just work harder and not depend on help from the government is following a conservative ideology. They think everyone should be self-reliant and that the government shouldn’t step in.

I think ideology is what makes us believe certain things are normal, even when they’re unfair. Like, we might grow up thinking some people just “deserve” to be rich and others don’t, without questioning the system. It’s kind of like an invisible force that shapes how we think without us always noticing it.

2. Conservative vs. Liberal Ideology

The way I understand it, conservatives and liberals have really different views about what the government should do. Conservatives want a small government that doesn’t interfere too much. They believe in freedom, tradition, and people being responsible for themselves. Liberals believe the government should play a bigger role, especially when it comes to helping people with things like healthcare, education, or housing.

The main difference is that liberals focus more on equality and making sure everyone gets a fair chance, while conservatives focus more on freedom and letting people figure things out on their own. For example, a liberal might support free college so more people can have opportunities, while a conservative might say it’s not the government’s job to pay for that.

Some words that define liberals are equality, progress, fairness. For conservatives: liberty, tradition, responsibility.

3. Althusser’s Definition of Ideology

Althusser’s idea of ideology is that it’s something we’re taught without even realizing it. He says it’s not just our personal beliefs, it’s something that comes from schools, religion, media, family, etc. And it trains us to think and act a certain way so we fit into society.

In my own words, it’s like we’re raised to believe things are just “the way they are,” even if they’re unfair. Like if you grow up poor and believe it’s your fault or that you just didn’t work hard enough, that’s ideology shaping your thinking. It keeps the system in place by making people accept their roles without fighting back.