We mentioned IDEOLOGY as an important concept in understanding why
people sometimes think and act the way they do.
The following is a broad outline of our class discussion of ideology.
DEFINITION OF IDEOLOGY:
Ideology refers to those beliefs, attitudes, and basic assumptions about
the world that justify, shape and organize how we perceive and interpret
the world. IDEOLOGY underlies norms, laws and values. Ideology is a set
of the most-basic assumptions and rationalizations about our social world.
Examples include the believe in "JUSTICE FOR ALL," which guides the criminal
justice system; "MY COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG" and "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY," which
guide our political process; "WOMEN SHOULD NOT RECEIVE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL
WORK," or "WOMEN DO NOT BELONG IN GRAD SCHOOL TAKING UP SLOTS MEN SHOULD
HAVE," which guides gender relations; "FREE ENTERPRISE," which guides our
economic system, and other beliefs by which we defend "WHAT IS."
Ideology can be RACIST, as when groups (white supremacists) or nations
(South Africa under apartheid) believe that whites are superior to blacks.
It can be SEXIST, as reflected in the broad set of thinking in which
women should not have positions of power because they are "too emotional"
or "monthly-challenged."
An ideology provides the basic framework for decisions and policies about
the social world and political activity. More specifically, ideologies are
the conceptual machineries for maintaining social order.
Ideology suggests a "false consciousness" in that it prevents us from seeing
the world as it "really is" in that we DO NOT QUESTION that which we ACCEPT
as "NORMAL." The trick is to IDENTIFY the ideological constraints that block
our understandings of the world.
IDEOLOGIES tend to be views of the world, but they are partial and incomplete,
not because they are NECESSARILY wrong, but because of the questions that we do
not ask. We seldom, if ever, question our beliefs and assumptions about the
nature of the world or the social order which ideologies sustain and
preserve. Ideologies create and generate the ideas, concepts, etc, appropriate
to our social world, and also LEGITIMIZE and promote particular conceptions
of the way things OUGHT to be.
IDEOLOGIES HAVE SEVERAL FEATURES:
1. They are PRECONSCIOUS
2. They are emotionally charged
3. They are shared among a large group of individuals; (ie, are
NOT simply INDIVIDUAL attitudes, but SOCIAL constructs)
4. They contain assumptions about the state of the world and how
it OUGHT TO BE
5. They are DISTORTED pictures because they are limited and
partial (and they thus generate "FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS" because
they are incomplete.
The functions of ideologies include, but are certainly not limited to
1. Justifying the status quo
2. Guiding activity and POLICY of a particular group (eg, the
state, legislature, JUDICIARY, etc)
3. Maintaining the dominant position of those who are able to
'Name the world."
4. There are different ways to control people-- a) force
(inappropriate for most things) or b) by controlling symbols,
IDEOLOGY IS THUS A WAY OF CONTROLLING WITHOUT VIOLENCE OR
COERCION... this may seem like common sense, BUT IT IS ONE
THING TO RECOGNIZE THAT CONTROL EXISTS, AND QUITE ANOTHER TO
DEMONSTRATE HOW IT OPERATES, IN WHOSE INTERESTS, AND HOW IT CAN
BE ADDRESSED THROUGH SOCIAL POLICY.
The point--Ideology guides and shapes and justifies our practices. To
understand social inquiry, it is thus useful to understand the role
ideologies play in blocking our vision of society.
IN SUM--- Ideologies contain the major conceptions and the symbols
accumulated in our culture, and represent views of social order, right
and wrong and identify who should or should not be subject to control,
processing, and punishment.
SO: Why discuss ideology?
1. Helps us understand the complex nature of social control (it's
easier to control behavior by controlling ideas).
2. Illustrates contradictions and tensions in society (for
example, between opposites, such as gun control/anti-gun
control; right-to-life/right to choose; Death
penalty/anti-death penalty).
3. Illustrates how the state functions to MANUFACTURE ways of
seeing and talking about the social world (ie, it presents
ACCOUNTS and RATIONALES to LEGITIMIZE actions, such as
intervention in state affair, protecting rights, etc. . .)
4. Helps us guide our analysis of society and helps set
strategies for SOCIAL POLICY.