Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP - Archives
Practice Module on This File

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: February 12, 2002
Latest Update: August 31, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Ideology

Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individaul Authors, February 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.

This essay is based on Brian Klocke's post to PSN: I've lost the URL, but this backup copy should help. Look at other files, will link, if you're having difficulty with the definition of ideaology. But notice how Brian's request gives an excellent example of how you might consider doing a small study of your own. I don't know where Brian got his American ideologies, but they sound about right.I f we can locate the URL, maybe you could write and ask for help with that.

To understand what Brian is talking about we need to know:

• hegemony - Gramsci, Italian social theorist
• discursive apparatus - means by which information is exchanged- media, associations, informal groups, etc.
• "homeland defense" and "White supremacist discourse"

  On Tuesday, February 12, 2002, Brian Klocke posted to PSN:

  Subject: Help w/ American ideologies

  I am a graduate student trying to study the concept of hegemony via discursive apparatuses of the elite that tap into popular American (U.S.) beliefs/ideologies. I would like your assistance with references that identify the components of certain American ideologies.

  I am specifically looking at three different fields that contain social and linguistic constructions at an individual level and at a national or global level.

  [T]he three areas are

  • nationalism/patriotism - - - and US supremacy
  • consumerism/social materialism - - - and neoliberal economics
  • hypermasculinity - - - and militarism

  What I am in need of is figuring out what para-ideologies are the components of these systems of belief. For example, under US supremacy, one would find the concept of "light on a hill" or "manifest destiny" or "american exceptionalism". Under consumerism, "more is better", under neoliberal economics, "unfettered free markets= freedom and democracy" and under militarism, "just war doctrine" and "peace thru strength".

  The pairs of categories above roughly translate to a focus of American identities of race, class and gender.

  I am hoping that you all can help me out with some references for some components of these American ideologies and offer any feedback on the theoretical framework I am constructing. p>In addition, I am needing help finding the origins of the term "homeland defense" which I thought was a term from white supremacist discourse, but I have not been able to find a reference.

  Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

  Brian Klocke "What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? I learned that Washington never told a lie. I learned that soldiers never die. I learned that everybody's free, And that's what the teacher said to me. " - Tom Paxton "How can a country large as ours Be scared of such a threat Well if they won't work for us They're against us you can bet They may be sovereign countries But you folks at home forget That they all want what we've got But they don't know it yet We're making the world safe for capitalism" - Billy Bragg "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." - Abraham Lincoln

  ---

  ---