The Marxists, for example, emphasis the importance of the "ruling class" or those that are economically dominant in society in the process of political socialization. They believe that the state uses "ideological state apparatus" (as termed by Louis Althusser, a French Marxist philosopher) such as the family, the education system, religious institutions, the mass media and the government have a vital role in passing on the ruling class values.
Marxist theories about political socialization and ideological hegemony are, in my opinion, interlinked. Marxists believe that the ideas passed on through these institutions are in the interests of the ruling class or "bourgeoisie" and rather than helping in political socialization and allowing one to form individual and informed decisions, these institutions practice ideological domination or hegemony.
An example of these institutions spreading a certain belief is evident in the rise of Islamophobia in the West. The mass media in the U.S in particular has been complicit in the rise of Islamophobia in the country. The death of three young Muslim Americans as a result of a shooting in North Carolina, for example, was barely given any attention in the media. This reflects how the attitudes of a the people in a country are affected by what is and is not represented in the "ideological state appartus."
1 comment:
I agree with ramsha's point of view.There is compelling evidence that reflects that the mass media tends to project a certain elitist ideology.This is evident in the behavior of media moguls such as Rupert Murdoch who direct news information personally.Moreover,several researchers have proven that the media tends to project certain groups in certain ways.For example,during the afghan war ,the afghans were called words like militants in news reports while the american soldiers were portrayed as heroes.
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