Ideology

[Ol' Dirty]

What is ideology? What makes it important? Why does it matter? Who does it affect? When does it do whatever it does? Where does it come from? How do we know?

[BobKKKindle$]

In Marxist discourse, ideology is a set of ideas which exists to obscure or provide a justification for the contradictions of the capitalist system. Ideology prevents workers from seeing the world as it really is, and acting to change the world, by making it seem as if capitalism is something that is natural and cannot be changed (the human nature argument) or by attributing the problems workers face to a section within the working class, thereby creating internal divisions (the prevalence of racist ideas) and strengthening the position of the ruling class.

Ideology has therefore sometimes been described as giving rise to a false consciousness - a distorted view of the world - although this term was only rarely use by Marx and Engels. It is important because challenging the dominant ideology is necessary for revolution. Even when workers face a fall in living standards (as a result of an economic depression) they may not become revolutionary, they may instead become politically apathetic and try to turn away from life outside the family unit, or they may become attracted to fascist movements which give workers a false sense of power and collective identity.

Therefore, the vanguard (which is the most conscious section of the working class) must intervene in the struggles of workers and agitate to show how the problems of workers link to and are derived from the capitalist system. This means breaking what Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci described as the cultural hegemony of the ruling class - the hegemonic control of ideas.

Ideology is created and transmitted (hegemony is exercised) through a range of institutions, the relative importance of which may vary over time. The most powerful of these is the mass media, which gives a twisted version of current events, and encourages workers to become consumerist, so they think that the purchase and consumption of goods will make them happy, serving the dual role of sustaining demand for commodities and preventing workers from realizing from that revolutionary struggle is necessary for their (spiritual and physical) emancipation. Other institutions include the school system and the church, and generational transmission through the nuclear family.

Cultural Hegemony is one component of the ruling class' power - the other is the use of physical force through the state when a direct threat is posed. The initial task - breaking the hegemony, winning the battle of ideas - was described by Gramsci as the "war of position" and the second stage - of taking state power - as the "war of movement".

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ Basically, Gramsci was emphasizing the merger formula but with new words (and I wonder why his near-idealistic choice of words, so alien to most ordinary workers, is OK for us but not my thoroughly materialistic choice of words :crying: ).

[bloody_capitalist_sham]

well wasn't gramsci in a fascist prison at the time?

[BobKKKindle$]

well wasn't gramsci in a fascist prison at the time?

Yes, I think that's why he chose to use such strange terminology, to stop his works being censored.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ I hope that our recent conversations (including the PMs I've sent you) have made clearer to you the merger formula regarding Marxism and the workers' movement. :mellow:

[BobKKKindle$]

OP: The following article may be of use in your study of ideology:

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=7154

One should also be aware that, although Marxists often claim that they base their views on a scientific method, Marxism can also be used as an ideology, to justify a lack of political freedom. We should therefore always remain critical of our own ideas to ensure that we do not become dogmatic.