Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes towards an Investigation) ON THE REPRODUCTION OF THE CONDITIONS 1 must now expose more filly something which ws Bie sfimpsed in my analysis when I spoke ofthe necrsity «0 Ferew the means of production if production is to be ppsible, That was » passing hint. Now T shall consider i fori, 'AS Mare sid every child knows tata socal formation which didnot reproduce the conditions of production at the same time ast produced would not let a yeur* The ‘timate condition of produeson is therefore the repro= duction of the conditions of production. ‘This may be ‘simple (epreducing exactly the previous conditions of production) or ‘on an extended scale’ (expanding them), Lexus ignore this at distinton for the moment. ‘What the, isthe reproduction of he conditions of pr= ston? ere we ae entering a domain which ie both very fre 1. Thstet a mate poten oman ein. The be ‘Kan torrente’ be shar ooo epotned $Me te Hagen 10, Sect Cored sn, ay128 Lass Altuser ilar (ince Capit! Volume Two) znd uniquely ignored. The tenacious obviousneses (ideological obviousnesses of an empiricist rye) of the point of view of production alone, tr evenof thatof mere productive practice (itself abstract in reli to che proces of production) ar so integrated into cour everyday “consiousnes’ tha iti extremely hard, not to sy almost imposible, to raise oneself tothe polar of view of reproduction. Nevertheless, everthing outside this point of view remains abstract (worse than one-sided: distarted)~ even atthe level of production, and, a fertor, at that of mere practice. [Let us try and examine che mater methodically To simplify my exposition, and assuming that every social formation arises ftom a dominant mode of production, TTean say thatthe proces of production sets to work the existing productive forces in and under definite relations of production Te fallows that, in order to exit, every socal formation must reproduce the conditions of ite prodicion a che sme time as it produces, and inorder toe able to produce. Tt must therefore reproduce: 1 the productive forces, 2 the existing relations of production. Reproduton of the Meone of Prodscton Everyone (including the bourgeois economists whose work fs national accounting, or the modeza ‘macro-economic? ‘theoreticians now recognizes, because Marx compelingly proved it in Capital Volume Two, that no possible which does not allow forthe reproduction of the Iateril condons of production: che reproduction of the means of production “The average economist, whois no diferent in his than eoogy ond the State 129 the average capitals, knows that cach yea tis essential to foresee what is needed to replace what hasbeen used up ot ‘worn out in production: raw material, fixed installations (uildings), instrament of production (machines), etc say the average economist = the average capitalist, for they both expres che point of view of the fm, regarding i as sfcent simply t give a commentary on the terms of the firm's nancial accounting practice, ‘Bu thanks tothe genius of Quesnay who frst posed this ‘glaing’ problem, nd tothe genius of Marx who resolved it, we know that the repreduction of the material con- Aions of production cannot be thought atthe level ofthe firm, becuse it does not exist at that level in is real con- Aisin, What happens atthe level ofthe frm isan effect, which ony gives an ides of che necessity of reproduction, but absolutely fis to allow its conditions and mechanisms to be thought. ‘A moment’ reflection is enough to be convinced of this Mr X, a capitalist who produces woollen yarn in his spinning-mill, has to ‘reproduce’ his raw material, bis machines, et, Bute does not produce chem for his own, production ~ other capitalists do: an Australian sheep- farmer, Mr ¥, a heavy enginesr producing machine-tons, Mr Z, ete, ete, And Mr Y and Mr Z, in order to produce those produets which ate the condition of the reproduction ‘of Mr X's conditions of production, also have to reproduce the conditions of thee own production, and so onto infinity = the whole in proportions such that, on the national and fren the world marke, the demand for means of pro- Auction (Cor reproduction) canbe satisfied by the supply. Tn order to think this mechanism, which leads to 2 kind of fendless chain’ eis necessary to follow Mara’s‘obal procedure and co study in particular the relations of the ‘lrculaton of capital between Deparment I (production of190 Louis Atuser ‘means of production) and Department TI (production of ‘means of consumption), and the realization of surplus vali, in Cepital, Volumes Two and Three ‘We shall not go into the analysis of this question, Te is ‘enough to have mentioned the existence of the necessity ofthe reproduction ofthe material condition of production, Reproduction of Labow-Poser However, the reader wil not have filed to note one thing. ‘We have discussed the reproduction of the means of pro: Auction ~ but not che eeproduction ofthe productive forces We have therefore Tgnored the reproduction of what diss tinguishes the productive foroe fom the means of pro Auction, i the reproduction of labour power From the observation of what takes place in the fm, in particular from the examination ofthe financial accounting practice which predicts amortization and investment, we have been able to obtain an approximate idea of the exist. ence of the material process of reproduction, but we are ‘ow entering a domain in which the observation of what happens in the firm is, if not totally blind atleast almost temtitely so, and for good reason: the reproduction of labour power takes place essentially outside the fi ow i the reproduction of labour power ensured? It's ensured by giving labour power the material mess with which co reproduce itself by wages. Wages feature in the accountng of each enterprise, but as ‘wage capt! not 2 all asa condition of the material reproduction of about power lowever, that is in face how it work’, since wages repo resents ony that pat ofthe value produce bythe expendi 4 Mane ae ene seep: asia eoogy andthe Stte 130 tare of labour power which is indpensabe fo i reeo- ducton: se. indispensable to the reconstitution of the lnbour power ofthe wage-arer (he wherewithal py for housing, fod and clothing, in shor to enable the wage carne to presen himself aga atthe fctory gate the next day ~and every freer day God grants him)yand we should add indispensabl for raising and educating the children in whom the proletarian reprodes himself (nn models where n = 0,1, 3...) as hbour power. Remember tat this quay of value (wages) necessary forthe reproduction of abour poner is deterned not by the needs of a ‘balopcal Guaranteed Minimum Wage (Sslice iniman Intrprofcional Garon) sone, but by the neads of historical minima (Mare noted that English workers neod beer wile French proetrians need wine) ~ie 2 historiallyvarable minimum, should alot pint out that his sisi ouby istriain ea ies ot defied by the historical neds of the working clas ‘ecogized’ by the capital ces, but by the histrial needs imposed by the proletarian lass struggle (double class sugge: eit the lengthening of the working day and aguas the redusion of wigs). However, eno enough o ensue for labour power the rnateril conditions oft eproducon if isto be repron duced as labour power. That ud that he avaliable abour poner must be ‘eompeten ie suitable to beset to ork in the cmplex system ofthe process of production. The development ofthe productive frees andthe eype of unity Nisrilly constitutive of the productive forces sea given ‘moment produce the rel thatthe abou power asf be (Giversel)) shiled and therefore reproduced as such Dively: according to the requirements of the soco- technical vision of labour, its dierent obs’ and ‘ps ow is this reproduction of the (Siversied) skills of132, Louis Ataser labour power provided for in capitalist regime? Her, unlike soci formations characterized ty shvery or sects, this reproduction ofthe silt ofinbour power tends (is isa tendon av) deresingly tobe provided for nthe S08 (apprenticeship wikia production ise), bat is Achieved moreand more outside production: by heeapalit education sytem, and by other instnces and insane, What do children earn at school? They go varying stances in thir ues, but at any rate they lean oad {0 write and to ad — i. a numberof techies, dt number of ther things 2 wel ncuding element whch maybe rudimensry oe on the eontay theroughgng) of ‘sient? or ‘literary eure’, which ate dicey wal the diferent jobs in production (one instruction for mau workers, another fr technicians «third for engineers, final one for higher management, etc). Ths they lesa ‘inovhow. Bur besides these techniques and knowledges, and in | eaming them, children at schol also lun the les! of | good behavior i. the ate chat should be observed | by ety agent ia the division of labour axording fete job he is “destined for: rales of morality, ie and pros {esimat otince, which anally means rules of eespet {ore Socio-ecnial division of labour and ukinatly he {sof the order exablished by cls domination, They seo lex to speak proper French to ‘handle’ the woke, corre ie. actualy (er the fice capitalists and thee servants) to ‘order them about properly, Le. (ely) to ‘speak then inthe eight way, ete ‘To put his more sintcaly, Tahal ay thatthe eeprox Auction of labour power requires not only a repeaducon ofits skill, but als, atthe same tne, repreluton of its submision to the rules ofthe etiblshed one, ie production of submision tothe rung ely the Haslogy andthe State 133 ces and sereducion ofthe alto masipuste TREES ely comely forthe agents of eaon ‘Evrae, 2h t,o, rove fhe Som ors lg ist "ate word the stool (ut alo ter State nts Sone the Char ero appease Ue be 85) teaches know ow infor ich ene erin tera ray ft pty ‘ens of sralutin, elation and preston, 01] Se Fe jonionte of cology” (ara), ust in fone Way or another be ‘steeped in this ideology in order Sem eee idee (he prota), of te epee (beeps), Bethe elena he meoge) er of he BN ra tera ag nn), "Fhe reproduction of bows power thos vals sine us ona only he repoducon fis‘ but 0 the production of ts subjetion fo he ing ely ot fe prc” of hat elogy ih the provi hat ‘not enough to say ‘not only but also’, 7 it} : fad that i * Pied adr fie of let sien ht sino mde for he eodton of he sof Bors to engin the efeive presence of new rely dey. Hecate wocmm “The tse vound of my am of reproduction, The ge a sre oe me of he stan be roi eo he i ‘Polurdon on he ob hand and of abour power onthe She Du 1 he ot yet apc te guint ceeauton of th tion of probcin. hiec ae Et hasty emote of olsen,196 Lois Abie ‘To lei pase would be a theoreti! omison ‘serious political error. mn wens, 8 1 hall hrefe discus i, Bat in ode to obin the ‘Means to discuss it, I shall have otter ne Taal ave to make snaier trg The send comment is that in order to make thi eto, Tam oblige ose my ad ea soceg? INFRASTRUCTURE aND suPeRsTRUCTURE On a mambr of occsionst Fh Oras ave insisted onthe rela Sear cua of te Mart concn a the od lif ais sinc fom he Hegen ele s2id (and chs thes only repens famoas prope Nore mats) tat Maer conceied te weg of etry scty a costed by level os near cused by sei eemiatin’ the afte ‘ono bass the “unity” of the produclvctoees eee re fan) tte pet contin en “evel? or ‘nance the flee he ee | sius, tis, ea, ptt, ee) : Bader is theoreiooidntic interest (t seve the derece between Marx and Hege, ths epee has the allowing eacltheerstial advantage een Posie to inibe inthe teres appet o essential concept wit T have aed ther epee See fey ha oes i mean et easy to ee tha this representation of the stucare of erery society 25 an edie conning s tas ote fabio and Rag Cpl hs Eis iia 96 ad spo aeology andthe State 135 ture) on which ae erected che evo or of the super- sersctur, sg mtaphoro be quite rei, sptl metic Fr the meagre tpepapy Cope ik rey retaphor, this metaphor suggests something, makes me- thing wsible, What? Precisely this: thatthe upper floors could"Hot ‘cay up" Gin the alr alone, if they did not cee precisely on their base “Thus the object of the metaphor of the edifice is to reps above al the determination nthe ast inane? by th ecmomie base, The ef ofthis apatal metaphor isto endow the bse with an index of efi known by the famous emt: the determination inthe let inane af what hapens inthe upper ooo the sper) by wae happens in he economies. Given thi index festivity in heft instance’ he too’ ofthe spantrotre are lly endowed wih diferent indices of etc. What Kindo indices? Tris poset ny tat the for ofthe eupervcare are not determinant inthe lst, Bo that they Aesermined bythe eect ofthe bes that hey ae eteminan inthe wm (get nde’) ys tric nly ino athe ae eerie’ by the Base. “hei index of efectvty (or eeeination, a dtece ssined by he determination inthe Ist instanceof the tase, thought bythe Maris train into way (0) ser sso he spree ih espe fo the busy) here fa repos acon ofthe sopeseutire one bs ean therefce ny ht she gent theoreti advanage of the Mars topography, eo the spasl metaphor of 5 Toperpty fem Grek opr ae A oognghy ron ina ett pce he rapes rsd by seve eo thse ‘Sonic eho (eb) the gene baSa ae pit at drags of hs epreetson of he state of etry society by the spud metaphor of esis, is obvioaly the fit thats meagre te it remains descriptive. ” Tesow seems tome tit itis posible and des to tepesen things difeenty NB 1 donee men yee Tanto it he dal tpn a apr ful requires that we go bond We And Tas seg Beyond it inorder tej as outer. 1 spy we teatenpeo thik what ges ain team oder hat ts posible and neesary 0 in what erasers he enn of he exgene snd mao lpesracreo he la of upon, One oe ok the pin of view of epson, many oF Se nite tence as inde byte pal nest the eis butt wich i eld not gi ¢ Sete [see elie nite tsi chs tai ee poset pse tee usions (and therefore to ansner then) eae fon ial ttn alge shor ral of Lav the Sate and day fom hit poi of em. An | sal evel at eee Both rm the pint of of pai and prone thee an, an trom iat of epoduse te ah Hesogy andthe State 137 ‘The Marxist tadton is strict, here: in the Commit ‘Masifesto andthe Eighteenth Brumaire (and in all the later ‘lasical texts, above all in Marx's writings on the Paris Commune and Lenin's on State and Revoluion), the State is explicitly conceived as a repressive apparatus. The State isa‘machine’ of pression, which enables the ruling classes (inthe nineteenth century the bourgeois lass andthe ‘lass’ of big landowners) to ensure their domination over the ‘working clas, chus enabling the former to subject the later to the process of surplus-value extortion (ie. to capitalist exploitation), "The State is thus fst of all what the Marxist clases have caled the Stare apparots. This term means: not ‘only the specialized apparsts (inthe nareow sense) whose existence and necessity Ihave recognized in telation tothe requirements of legal practic, ie. che police, the cours, che prisons; but also the army, which (the prolearct has paid forthe experience with its blood) intervenes directly as ¢ supplementary repressive force in the last instance, when the police and is epcilied auxiliary corps are “outrun by events; and above this ensemble, the head of State ‘the government and the administration ‘resented in this form, the Marxist-Leninist ‘theory’ of the State as its finger on the essential point, and not for one moment ean there be any question of rejecting the fact that. ‘his really isthe essencal pone. The tate apparatus, which defines the Stare as a force of repressive execution and intervention ‘in the interests ofthe ruling cases’ in the class struggle conducted by the bourgeoisie and ics allies against the proletariat, is quite cerainly the State, and ‘ite certainly dens its bate “fonction138 Louis Alhucer From Desriptve Theory to Theory as sich Seer ‘Sita amas fe i toe ‘object: the State, _ : ' Tdsoogy andthe State 139 ‘ost that this descriptive ‘theory is without the shadow of ‘an imaginary relation? And what isthe nature of his imaginariness? Posed inthis way, the question explodes the talution by a‘clique", bya group of individual (Priests Despots) who are the authors ofthe grat ideological mysti= Seaton, just az it explodes the solution by the alienated character of the real world. We shall see why lter in my ‘exposition, For the moment I shall goo further ‘THESIS 11: Ideology has a material existence, Thave already touched on this chess by saying thatthe “ideas or ‘epresentations’, etc, which seem to make up ideology do not have an ides! (dale or ial) or spiritual ceristence, bta material existence I even sugested thatthe deal (dle, ide) and spiral existence of ‘ideas’ arises exclusively in an ideology ofthe idea’ and of ideology, and let me ad in an ideology of what seems to have ‘founded? this conception since the emergence ofthe iences, i what sa: Tse sey made te erty Forrein Commi, ionansey i sconce epi same ola devon Uhr tsp) by az of cgue166. Lewis Abuser the practcins of che sciences represent to themselves in ‘heir spontaneous ideology asides, truer false. Ofcourse, presented in affirmative form, this thesis is unproven. T imply ask tha the reader be favourably disposed towards ig.sy,in the nameof materialism, Along series of arguments would be necessary to prove it “This hypothetical thesis ofthe not spiricual but material ‘existence of ‘ideas! or other “representations! is indeed necessary if weare tondvance in oranalysis ofthe nature of Sdeology. Or rather, itis merely better to reveal what every ata serious analysis of any ideology will immediatly and empirically show to every observer, however etic ‘While discussing the ideological Sate apparatuses and thie practices, I sud that each of them vas the realization fof an ideology (Che unity of these deren regonalideo- Togies ~ religious, ethical, leg, polis, aesthetic, te. = ‘being assured by ther subjection tothe rling ideology). T nov recut to this thesis: an ideology always exists in an spas ands pai, or ras, This xen ‘OF courte, the material existence of the ideology in an apparatus and it practices doesnot have the sume modality 48 the material existence ofa paving-stone or a rifle. Bu, a the isk of being taken for a Neo-Aristoteian (NB Marx tad very high egard for Aristotle, I shallsay that materis iscused in many senses" or rather that itexist indifferent sodas, ll rooted inthe ast instance in “physical” matter. HEving said this, let me move strsght on and see what happens to the “individual who ve in ideology ie. in a determinate (eligiou, ethical, etc) representation of the ‘world whose imaginary distortion depends on ther imag inary relation to their conditions of existence, in other ‘words, in the last instance, tothe relations of production leoogy andthe State 163 and to class relations (deslogy = ani real relations). I shll say that chis imaginary relation ie Sse endowed with material existence, ‘Now I obterve the following. An individual believes in God, or Duty, or Justice, er. ‘This belie derives (or everyone, i. for ll those who live inan ideological representation of ideology, which reduces ideology to ideas endowed by definition with a eprtual ‘existence fom the ideas of the indivdsl concerned, is. fom him as ssubjec with 2 consciousness which contains the ideas of his belief. In ths way, ie. by means of the absolutely ideological ‘concepeua!” device (dios) thus setup (a subject endowed with a consciousness in which he feely forms o frely recognizes ideas in which he believes), the (material) atitude of the subject concerned naturally fellows |The individual in question behaves in such and such a | way, adopts such and such a praccl attitude, and, what is more, pateipates in certain regular practices which are those of the ideological apparatus on which ‘depend? the ideas which he has in all consciousness freely chosen 283 subject, Ife believes in God, he goes to Church to attend ‘Mas, kneels, prays, confesses, does penance (once ic was ‘material in the ordinary sense of the term) and naturally repents and so on. If he believes in Duty, he will have the corresponding attode, incrbed in eitual practices ‘a cording tothe correct principle’ IFhe believes in Justice, he will submit unconditionally tothe rales ofthe Law, and ray even protest when they are violated, sign pestions, take pit in ¢ demonstration, etc. ‘Throughout this schema we observe that the ideological representation of ideology i itself forced to recognize that every ‘subject’ endowed with 2 ‘consciousness! and be- Tieving inthe das that his ‘consiousnes inspire in him168. Lows Altaser and freely accepts, must ‘act according this eas, mst therfore inscribe his ovn ideas az a free subject inthe jong of his matril prasice. Ihe does no do tat wicked | ndeed, if he doesnot do what he ought to do a8 a | foneon of whathe bles, ts because e does something els, which, sll a2 fancton ofthe sie eft heme | implies tht he fas ober des ins head a well 8 thee he proclaims, and tht he acts according to thee other less, as tan who ie ier Snconsisten? (no one is vilingly ev) or ei on perverse Tn every case, the idly of ideology ths recognizes, « despite is imaginary distortion, hat the idea of «human | subject exis in is acios, or ought to exis ni ction, and if that is no the ease lends him oer ideas cores= ponding to che acons (however perverse) that he doce Peform. ‘This ideology tals of aaions: shall tlk of "dens inserted into pacts dad T shall pine out that these practices ae governed bythe etwas in which these pracics are inscribed, within the stra existence of a Holgeal apport, bleonly anal pat of hatappaate: 2 small masa sol cure, a fame minor match ata sport! cub, a schoo day, pole party meting et Besides, we are indebted to Pascal’ defensive etc forthe wonderful formula which wil enable us to invert | she oder ofthe maa theme of desig, Pal ys | more or less "Kel down, move your lip sn prayer, and | you will believe” He thus seandlouly savers the order of things bringing, lke Christ, not peace but strife, and in Addon something hardly Christian (fr woe to him who brings scandal nto the wert!) ~ scandal lA fortunate scandal which makes him stick with Jansnistdefance to 8 language tat direst names the realy. Til be allowed to leave Pasa othe arguments of kis Hieolegy and the State 169 ideological struggle with the religious ideological State spparatusof his day. And I shall be expected to use a more irely Marsise vocabulary, if that i posible, for we are advancing in sill poorly explored domains T shall therefore say that, where only single subject (each and such an individual) is concerned, the existence (ofthe ideas of his bli is material in that his ideas are his ‘material actions imerted int material practices governed by Inateral rituals which are themseloes defied by the material eoopcel apgoratue from which derive the ideas of thar sabjec, Naturally, the four inscriptions of the adjecve ‘materia in my proposition must be afleced by diferent modalities: the materiales of a displacement for going to ras: of kneeling down, ofthe gesture of the sign of the cross, or ofthe mea culpa, of a sentence, of «prayer, of an set of contrition, ofa penitence, ofa gaze, ofa handeshake, of an external verbal discourse or an internal” verbal die ‘course (consciousness), are not one and the same material shall lve on one side the problem of 2 theory of the Las Ate Imerys fc: es in th rt so rents ofthe urge sem Lave jum dni’ of fy pret, Aah ebigaty of the em lect Inthe diay of {he tomy subj in fc mene (0) = fe jet 2 |e of inate, author ef and repose for hs | Scns (@)asubjeced being, ho abi to higher {stort is theefoesppd of al fedom exept thot fel aceptnghssbon Thine ies the mening of the agi, Wich merely teeion af te cect which pods he india [rele vs (fe) sb inode ht Be all at Seay she somnanamts of the Sabie, ire hat fehl rely) apts ton oer that eal make the gestures and cone of his sbjcion ‘all by Toe Thre nen sb exept by al fr le jet. That wy they work al by these. “Sobeit 2 This phate ch egies the efecto be hein proves tut ot ‘arly 20 Caster use he prayer ie ouside the olga ire, his phe pve thst eso hig 0 Be hat they rus be, and lett et he words lip the Teprofucton ofthe lane of pricon eto be eure, ‘Men in the pws of pedueon snd clan, ey Gry, in the “comciusns, te nthe ads of be tnaeidetsutjees ccapying se pos which the soir ‘ec of mens ann pode, Sctntaon repression, esogsn, sete proce re Indeed what relly qusion in ths mechani of he mir reepiton ofthe Sojet ano he ind sidsalinerplel a jects and of he gusanter en Uy the Subject co te ube they ely axe thei jenon tothe Subj commandments? The rly JE queso in is mechani, the reaity whch news ely ied (dom) in the very forme of engin ieology andthe State 183 (ideology = misrecognition/ignorance) is indeed, in the last resort, the reproduction ofthe relations of predueton and ofthe relations deriving From them January-April 1969 P.S, If these fow schematic theses allow me eo illuminate certain aspects of the fonctioning of the Superstrucite and its mode ofimervenion inthe Infrastructure, they ate obviously absrart and necessarily lave several important problems unanswered, which should be mentioned 1. The problem of the foal proces of the realization of the reproduction ofthe relations of production ‘Asan element ofthis proces, the ISAs contribute to this reproduction. But the point of view of their enteibution alone ie sill an abstract one. It is only within the processes of production and cireu- Incon that this reproduction i realized. Its realized by the rechanismas of thote processes, in which the tening ofthe svorkers is completed’ their posts assigned them, et. Its in the internal mochanieme of these processes that the effect ofthe diferent ideologies is fel (above all he effect, of legel-thial ideology), But this point of view is sill an abstract one. For in class society the relations of production ae relations of exploitation, and therefore relations between ancagonistic ‘lasses. The reproduction of the relations of production, the ultimate sim of the ruling class, cannot therefore be & merely technieal operation taining and disteibuing ndi- viduals forthe diferent posts inthe ‘technical division’ of Iabour. In fier there ie no “echnical division’ of labour except inthe ideology of the ruling class evry tehnicl™ division, every “echnical” organization of labour is the form and mask of sca! (= class) division and organization of184 Louis Alser labour. The reproduction of the relations of produetion can therefore only be a class undertaking. Te is realized ‘through clas struggle which counterposes the lng clase and the exploited clas. "The tral races of the realization ofthe reproduction of the relations of production is therefore sil abst, nsofar asic has not adopted the point of view ofthis clas struggle, ‘To adopt the point of view of reproduction is therefore, {nthe last instance, to adopt the point of view of the class saruggle. ‘2. The problem of the class nature of the ideologier ‘existing in social formation, ‘The ‘mechanism’ of ideology ix genera is one thing. We haveseen that ita be reduced toa few principles expressed ina few words (“poor as those which, according to Marx, define production i general, ot in Preud, define the un conscious ie goer). I there is any tuth inthis mechan fm must be abstract with respect to every real ideological formation T have suggested chat the ideologies were resliced in intcations, in thee rituals and their practices, in the ISAS, ‘We have sen that on chs bass they contribute ro that form ‘of ease struggle, vital forthe ruling clas, the reproduction fof the relations of production. But the point of view itself, however rea is sll an abstract one Ta fact, the State and its Apparatuses only have meaning from the point of view ofthe lass struggle, a8 an apparatus of clase strogele ensuring css oppression and guaranesing the conditions of exploitation and its repeoduetion, But there is no class strugple without antagonistic classes. ‘Whoever says class struggle of the ruling class says resist ance, revolt and class sruggle of the ruled class. "That is why the ISAs are not the realization of ideology fn general, nor even the confitfree realization of the ieoogy andthe Staxe 185 deology ofthe ruling clas, The ideology of the ruling class does not become the ruling ideology by the grace of God, nor even by virtue of che seizure of State power alone, Ttis by the installation of the ISAs in which this ideslogy is realized and realizes itself that ie beoomes the ruling ideology. But this installation is not achieved all by itself; ‘on the contrary its the stake in wry biter and continuous class struggle: rst agnnst the former ruling classes and their positions in the old and new ISAs, then against the exploited class. ‘But this point of view of the clas struggle in the ISAs is sill an abstract one. In fac, the cass struggle in the ISAs is indeed an aspect ofthe class steugale, sometimes an important and symptomatic one: eg. the antrligious struggle in the eightenth century, othe ‘xsi of the educational ISA in every capitalist country today. But the css struggles in the ISAs is only one aspect of a lass struggle which goes beyond the ISAs. The ideology that x class in power makes the ruling ideology inits ISAsis indeed ‘realized’ in those ISAs, but ie goes beyond them, for it comes ftom elsewhere. Similarly, the ideology that ruled cass manages to defend in and agsinse such ISAs goes beyond them, for ic comes from elsewhere. Tis ony fom the point of view of the laste, of the cles sruggle, that i i posible to explain the ideologies ‘existing in a social formation. Not only is it ftom this searting-point that ic i posible to explain the realization ofthe ruling ideology inthe ISAs and of the forms ofc struggle for which the ISAs ae the seat and the stake, But iris also and above all from this stirting-point that it i possible to understnd the provenance of the ideologies hich are realized in the ISAs and confront one another there, For if i ie trae that che ISAe represent the form in hich the ideology ofthe ruling ass must necessarily be186. Louis Alaser and the form in which the ideology of the ruled lass must necessarily be measured and confronted, ideolo- fies aze not ‘bora’ in che ISAs but from the socal classes Et grips in the clay struggle: from their conditions of cxstence, ther practices, their experience of the struggle, April 1990 Appendix