Inequality and Ideology

Review
Communist

Manifesto

Class Conflict
Proletariat and Bourgeoisie
Class Formation of the Proletariat
Objective
Class position

Class
Consciousnes
s

Class-oriented
political
behavior

Material conditions are necessary

but not sufficient
The experience of unemployment [read
frustration, discontent, grievance] is a
preliminary step for the revolutionary mood,
but they do not lead by themselves to a
readiness for mass action. Metaphorically
speaking, these experiences only fertilize the
ground for revolution, but do not generate it.
~ Bohan Zawadski and Paul Lazarsfeld,
regarding their study of unemployed Polish
workers during the great depression of
1930s

Defining Ideology
Gramsci
Ideology

Ideology = Shared
ideas and beliefs for
understanding the
social world that either
1) explain and justify
the power of dominant
groups or 2) challenge
current social relations

American Class Ideology

Shared

ideas and beliefs about

class in the US
Video (1:40-9:50) http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQwTS-K6
jI

What

assumptions do Americans
hold about class in the US?
Level of inequality
Opportunity for mobility

http://

www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/

In your opinion, which is the bigger cause

of poverty today - that people are not doing
enough to help themselves out of poverty,
or that circumstances beyond their control
cause them to be poor?
<100%

200%+

People Not Doing

Enough

39

50

Circumstances

57

44

Which one would you say is the

most important cause of poverty?

<100%

200%+

Medical bills

10

Too many jobs

being part time or
low wage

17

12

A shortage of jobs

10

Poor people lacking

motivation

12

Decline in moral
values

14

Drug Abuse

22

11

Ideology and Power

Dominant

Ideology

The ideology of the group in power

Hegemonic

ideology

When the majority of the population

accepts the dominant ideology
When the dominant ideology is
accepted as common sense and is
unquestioned or taken for granted

Discussion
How

are these views ideological?

What other ideas does that ideology

consist of?
Hegemonic

ideology as consent

People consent to their own

domination because they consider it
natural or just
Belief that the current class hierarchy
is the only way of running society
How

is ideology created?