POL_S 333 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Louis Althusser, Ruling Class, Class Conflict
Document Summary
Althusser distinguishes between the repressive state apparatus (sa) and the ideological state apparatus (isa). Rsa (marx): composed of head of state, government and administration, specialized apparatus: police, courts, prisons and military. Function: repressive intervention in the interests of the ruling class ensures: domination over the working class. Isa: religious (different churches, educational (system of public and private schools, the family, political (different parties, the trade-union, communication (press, radio, tv, cultural (literature, arts, sports, unified by ruling ideology by which they function. Rsa functions: predominantly by violence, secondary by ideology, aim: secure relations of exploitation. Isa functions: predominantly by ideology, secondary by repression (more concealed, aim: secure relations of exploitation. Isa makes a person more likely to agree with their conditions because they believe they it"s a part of themselves where as rsa they can see the violent exploitation. Ruling class: holds power via the rsa easy, maintains power via isa not so easy.
