Concept of Ideology

Ideology is a word that is used often at the University and by politicians.  But it is possible that we are using the word without truly understanding the concept of ideology.  Ideology has the problem of encompassing so many ideas that it doesn't discriminate the boundaries of what it is and what it is not. 

Marx was not the first to develop the concept of ideology, although many believe he was.  Others believe that ideology was a product of the French Revolutionaries that based their ideas on sensationalism in order to promote the movement as a "science of ideas."  But Marx was more impressed with ideology as a quality of social thought.  Thus, Marx's social theory was based on history that was free from distortion.

Mannheim conceptualized ideology broadly as "the whole outlook of the social group, its total Weltanschauung."  He argued that there were two types of ideologies, one originating with with norms from the past that tried to maintain things as they were.  And the other type was that which broke with the past order for an Utopian order to come.

Garstin, thought ideology, myth, creed, schema, and Weltanschauung, could be used interchangeably.

Laswell and Kaplan distinguished ideology as myths that whether they were true or false they are believed by the masses as truth and thus had the power of being accept as such.  For Laswell and Kaplan "myth comprehends ideology and utopia because ideology is the political myth functioning to preserve the social structure; the utopia, to supplant it."  Put simply, ideology is used to maintain a given political power.  But Utopian ideology (not usually called such anymore but is assumed in the meaning) is to bring about fundamental changes in political power structures.

Ideology is a modern phenomenon (since the French Revolution).  The use of ideology corresponds with modern regimes contrasted against traditional ancient regimes.