Ideological State Apparatus

An Ideological State Apparatus (ISA), a term from Marxist theory, refers to the institutions that influence people’s beliefs, values, and ideas to maintain the dominant ideology. Unlike force or laws (repressive apparatus), ISAs work quietly through schools, media, religion, and cultural organizations to shape societal norms and reinforce the power structures. They help people accept and uphold the existing social order by shaping their perceptions and ideas, often operating subtly and over time rather than through direct coercion.