Nature & Role of Ideology

• What is an ideology?

  A worldview or belief system
• What negative aspects can ideologies include?

  Concealing group interests and preventing change
• What does a biased view of reality imply in ideology?

  It misleads people about their situation
• How is ideology regarded when described as a belief system?

  Factually and/or morally wrong
• What is the function of ruling class ideologies according to Marxism?

  To legitimize class inequality
• How does Marxism view society's structure?

  Divided into capitalist and working classes
• What do ruling classes exploit according to Marxism?

  Workers' labor to produce profit
• What must the working class develop for a revolution to occur?

  Class consciousness
• What do ideological state apparatuses control?

  Production of ideas through social institutions
• What do dominant ideas in society reflect according to Marxists?

  The interests of the ruling class
• What do Marxists believe will eventually happen despite ideological barriers?

  The working class will develop true class consciousness
• What do critics argue maintains the status quo instead of ideology?

  Economic factors like fear of unemployment
• What do feminists see as the fundamental division in society?

  Gender inequality
• How do patriarchal ideologies legitimize gender inequality?

  By justifying gender differences in society
• What did Marks (1979) describe about scientific ideology?

  It justified excluding women from education
• What claim did 19th-century male doctors make about educated women?

  Success would disqualify them from nurturing
• How do many religions view women, according to the text?

  As ritually impure or unclean
• What do critics argue about religious belief systems and women's subordination?

  Not all elements subordinate women
• What is a feature of all societies regarding gender?

  Gender difference
• What do both Marxists and Feminists believe about societal institutions?

  They deliver ideological control to maintain status quo
• What distinction does Karl Mannheim make regarding belief systems?

  Between ideological and utopian thought
• What does Mannheim say about ideological thought?

  It reflects privileged groups' interests
• How do Marxists and Feminists view religion according to Mannheim?

  As a conservative belief system
• What is utopian thought according to Mannheim?

  It reflects the interests of the underprivileged
• What role do 'organic intellectuals' play according to Mannheim?

  To create a working class worldview
• What is Mannheim's solution for achieving a total worldview?

  Creating a group of 'free-floating intelligentsia'
• Why is it difficult to achieve Mannheim's total worldview?

  Conflicting ideologies may not unite
• What does nationalism claim about nations?

  Nations are real, distinctive communities
• How does Anderson (2006) describe a nation?

  As an 'imagined community'
• What does Gellner (1994; 2006) argue about nationalism?

  It is a modern phenomenon
• What does Marxism say about nationalism's role?

  It maintains false class consciousness
• What did Marx classify himself as?

  An 'internationalist'
• What does nationalism encourage workers to believe?

  They share more with local capitalists
• How does nationalism benefit the ruling class?

  It divides the international working class
• What does Gellner (1994; 2006) say about nationalism's motivation?

  It motivates workers to endure hardships
• How do functionalists view nationalism?

  As a form of secular civil religion
• What role does education play in nationalism according to functionalists?

  Creates social solidarity and national identity
• How does Gellner (1994; 2006) view mass state education?

  As essential for economic development
• What do postmodernists believe about knowledge?

  All knowledge is uncertain
• How do postmodernists view meta-narratives?

  As ideological and should be rejected