Althusser (Marxist)

Louis Althusser:

  • Althusser was a structural Marxist

  • Reproduction of inequality in society - influenced by Marx's ideas of economic base and superstructure

  • The ruling class controlled the behaviours of the working

    class through social institutions

How?

  • Ideological State Apparatus

  • Repressive State Apparatus

The Ideological State Apparatus:

  • Social Institutions:

    • Media

    • Religion

    • Education

    • Family

    • Work

  • Passed on the dominant norms and values of the ruling class

  • Individuals:

    • This controlled individuals’ behaviours through informal social control

  • The ISA was effective in making people control their own behaviours

  • Ideas such as meritocracy made the working class feel like they did not deserve high-status

  • Ideologies of social stratification give higher status to the ruling class - 'the elites'

The Repressive State Apparatus:

  • However, some people reject the ideology of the ruling class and this renders the ISA ineffective

  • Social order and social control need to be established through the repressive state apparatus at this point

  • Police, the legal system and in extreme cases, armed forces use coercion and physical force to control dissenting voices

  • Examples of the use of the repressive state apparatus

    • 2011 Riots

    • US police responses to #blacklivesmatter protests

    • Use of Force in Miner's Strike and Poll Tax Riots in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s

Evaluations of Althusser:

  • Theoretical basis for Althusser's ideas - not based on actual research

  • People can reject the ideology of the ruling class without resorting to actions that require the RSA to intervene

  • Democratic principles in the UK require the state to obtain the consent of the masses in order to govern