Louis Althusser developed his notion regarding the concepts of ideology, state apparatuses and interpellation. Althusser comes with a unique approach to all these issues. This essay will summarise the notions advanced by Althusser in respect to the definitions given to the terms mentioned.
In his definition of ideology, Althusser adopts two strategies. In the first place, he offers to define ideology as an imagined association of people to their real conditions. He provides examples of ideologies as political, ethical, legal, and political ideologies. On the other hand, he looks at ideology as consisting of material existence. In this respect, ideology can be described as representing imagined associations that individuals have in relation to their real existence. State apparatuses are defined as instruments used by the authorities. In this respect, Althusser categorises the state apparatuses into two: repressive state apparatuses and ideological state apparatuses (Althusser, 1994).
The repressive state apparatuses are said to be those state apparatuses that use violence. They include the state’s uniformed forces, and they employ violence in their functioning. The ideological state apparatuses, on the other hand, refers to the special institutions found in the society such as the family, religious institutions, the legal structures, and trade unions, among others. Interpellation can be described as the manner in which ideology executes power. These aspects are all related in the sense that ideology is used to execute power by means of the state apparatuses (Althusser, 1994).
Althusser developed his own way of looking at various aspects. Ideology is used to execute power in society. In this respect, the state apparatuses may execute power in society. The process through which the power is executed has been defined as interpellation by Althusser. Therefore, it can be argued that the three concepts advanced by Althusser are closely interrelated.
Bibliography
Althusser, L, 1994, Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses.