Ideology

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Teun A Van Dijk - Pompeu Fabra University, Spain; Centre of Discourse Studies, Spain, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain

Other Titles in:
Communication and Media Studies (General) | Political Theory & Thought (General) | Social Theory

March 1998 | 384 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

The definition of ideology continues to occupy scholars across a wide range of disciplines. In this book, Teun A van Dijk sketches a challenging new multidisciplinary framework for theorizing ideology. He defines ideology as the basis of the social representations of a group, its functions in terms of social relations between groups, and its reproduction as enacted by discourse. Contemporary racist discourse is examined to illustrate these ideological relations between cognition, society and discourse.

Introduction

PART ONE: COGNITION

Ideas and Beliefs

Social Beliefs

Structures and Strategies

Structures of Ideologies

Values

Mental Models

Consistency

Consciousness

Common Sense

Knowledge and Truth

Identity

Social Cognition

PART TWO: SOCIETY

Ideology and Society

Groups

Group Relations

Elites

Dominant Ideologies?

Institutions

PART THREE: DISCOURSE

The Relevance of Discourse

Discourse Structures

Context

Reproduction

From Cognition to Discourse

Persuasion

Legitimation

Ideological Discourse Structures

The Ideology and Discourse of Modern Racism

Conclusions

`Whilst the literature on ideology is legion, the concept remains as elusive and confused as ever. This book promises a fresh start. It begins the ambitious task of outlining a new, multidisciplinary theory which attempts to show how ideologies shape people's perceptions and understanding of society and, in subtle and complex ways, regulate social practices and relationships in the social world' - British Journal of Sociology

`Van Dijk has written a stimulating book presented as an invitation to multidisciplinary cooperation' - International Journal of Public Opinion Research

`A substantive book-length treatment of ideology, van Dijk tells us in his preface, has been an unrealized project he has always dreamed about. The project is at last realized, and is done so lucidly and thoroughly. Students will find it a helpful text in thinking about one of the most difficult key concepts in the social sciences' -European Journal of Communication