5.2 Theories and ideologies Flashcards
Define Ideology
it is a worldview or a set of idea and values.
- Ideas that conceal the interest of particular group (men and fem) , or that legitimate their privilege (Marxism)
Marxism and ideology
Marxism sees society as divided into two opposed classes. The capitalist class take advantage of the working class and this therefore means that it is in the workers interest to overthrow capitalism. For this to occur, the working class must become conscious of their true position as wage slaves – they must develop class consciousness. The ruling class not only own the means of production but produce ruling-class ideology which are ideas that justify the status quo.
Ruling class ideology includes idea and beliefs such as:
- Equality will never work because it goes against human nature
- Victim blaming ideas – everyone has an equal chance in life so the poor must be stupid because they don’t do as well
- Racist ideas about the inferiority of ethnic minorities
- Nationalist ideas that workers and capitalists of one nation have more in common than the workers of the world
the dominant ideas are the ideas of the ruling class and they function to prevent change by creating what?
a false consciousness among the workers.
Gramsci refers to ruling class ideological domination as?
hegemony
What did Gramsci means by dual consciousness?
duel-consciousness which is a mixture of ruling-class ideology that they develop from their own experience of exploitation and their struggles against it. in Gramsci’s view, the possibility of overthrowing capitalism is dependent on a political party of organic intellectuals – workers
Critics of Gramsci Hegeminey and revolution?
Some critics argue that it is not the existence of a dominant ideology that keeps workers in line and prevents an overthrow of capitalism.
- Economic factors fear of unemployment keeps worker from rebelling.
what is the idea of nationalism
every nation for itself
What do Marxist view nationalism as?
Marx = internationalist. So nationalism is nothing but a false consciousness that helps to prevent the overthrow of capitalism by dividing internal workers,
How do functionalist see nationalism?
as a secular civil religion. It integrates individuals into a larger social and political units by making them feel part of something greater than themselves.
E.g. education does this through nationalist symbols flags and national anthem, history
Explain Mannheim’s distinction between ‘idological athought’ and ‘utopian thought’
Ideological thought justifies the status quo; utopian thought justifies social change.
According to Gellner, how is nationalism used to enable a state to modernise?
Motivates the population to endure hardship and suffering that accompany the first phase o industrialisation, thereby enabling the state to modernise.
According to feminists, what is the fundamental division in society?
gender inequality and patriarchal ideology legitimating it
Pauline Marks, in what ways have ideas from science been used to justify women’s exclusion from education?
science used - doctors 19th c = ‘disqualify women from their true vocation’ = nurturing babies
example to show how religious beliefs may define women as inferior.
Muslim women are not allowed to touch the Quran cause they unpure or pray. Christian mother after birth may not receive communion until after she has been churched.
