On the Reproduction of Capitalism : Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses

Louis Althusser’s renowned short text ‘Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses’ radically transformed the concept of the subject, the understanding of the state and even the very frameworks of cultural, political and literary theory. The text has influenced thinkers such as Judith Butler, Ernesto Laclau and Slavoj Žižek. The piece is, in fact, an extract from a much longer book, __On the Reproduction of Capitalism__, until now unavailable in English. Its publication makes possible a reappraisal of seminal Althusserian texts already available in English, their place in Althusser’s oeuvre and the relevance of his ideas for contemporary theory. __On the Reproduction of Capitalism__ develops Althusser’s conception of historical materialism, outlining the conditions of reproduction in capitalist society and the revolutionary struggle for its overthrow. Written in the afterglow of May 1968, the text addresses a question that continues to haunt us today: in a society that proclaims its attachment to the ideals of liberty and equality, why do we witness the ever-renewed reproduction of relations of domination? Both a conceptually innovative text and a key theoretical tool for activists, __On the Reproduction of Capitalism__ is an essential addition to the corpus of the twentieth-century Left. One of the most important Marxist thinkers of the twentieth century... nothing short of electric. His renewal of Marxism represented a liberation for a younger generation” Radical Philosophy Louis Althusser's renowned short text 'Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses' radically transformed the concept of the subject, the understanding of the state and even the very frameworks of cultural, political and literary theory. The text has influenced thinkers such as Judith Butler, Ernesto Laclau and Slavoj Žižek. The piece is, in fact, an extract from a much longer book, On the Reproduction of Capitalism, until now unavailable in English. Its publication makes possible a reappraisal of seminal Althusserian texts already available in English, their place in Althusser's oeuvre and the relevance of his ideas for contemporary theory. On the Reproduction of Capitalism develops Althusser's conception of historical materialism, outlining the conditions of reproduction in capitalist society and the revolutionary struggle for its overthrow. Written in the afterglow of May 1968, the text addresses a question that continues to haunt us today: in a society that proclaims its attachment to the ideals of liberty and equality, why do we witness the ever-renewed reproduction of relations of domination? Both a conceptually innovative text and a key theoretical tool for activists, On the Reproduction of Capitalism is an essential addition to the corpus of the twentieth-century Left Louis Althusser's renowned short text 'Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses' radically transformed the concept of the subject, the understanding of the state and even the very frameworks of cultural, political and literary theory. The text has influenced thinkers such as Judith Butler, Ernesto Laclau and Slavoj iek. The piece is, in fact, an extract from a much longer book, On the Reproduction of Capitalism, until now unavailable in English. Its publication makes possible a reappraisal of seminal Althusserian texts already available in English, their place in Althusser's oeuvre and the relevance of his ideas for contemporary theory. On the Reproduction of Capitalism develops Althusser's conception of historical materialism, outlining the conditions of reproduction in capitalist society and the revolutionary struggle for its overthrow. Written in the afterglow of May 1968, the text addresses a question that continues to haunt us today: in a society that proclaims its attachment to the ideals of liberty and equality, why do we witness the ever-renewed reproduction of relations of domination' Both a conceptually innovative text and a key theoretical tool for activists, On the Reproduction of Capitalism is an essential addition to the corpus of the twentieth-century Left. From the Trade Paperback edition What Is Perhaps Louis Althusser's Most Famous Text, 'ideology And Ideological State Apparatuses,' Published In 1970 And Very Influential Ever Since, Was An Extract Of A Much Longer Book Published In French Years After His Death. Published Now For The First Time In English, 'on The Reproduction Of Capitalism' Develops Systematically Althusser's Conception Of Historical Materialism, Outlining The Conditions Of Reproduction In Capitalist Society And The Revolutionary Struggle For Its Overthrow. What Is Philosophy? -- What Is A Mode Of Production? -- The Reproduction Of The Conditions Of Production -- Base And Superstructure -- Law -- The State -- Brief Remarks On The Political And Associative Ideological State Apparatuses Of The French Capitalist Social Formation -- The Political And Associative Ideological State Apparatuses -- The Reproduction Of The Relations Of Production -- The Reproduction Of The Relations Of Production And Revolution -- Further Remarks On Law And Its Reality, The Legal Ideological State Apparatus -- On Ideology. Louis Althusser ; Preface By Etienne Balibar ; Introduction By Jacques Bidet ; Translated By G.m. Goshgarian. First Published As Sur La Reproduction, [copyright] Presses Universitaires De France 1995. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Louis Althusser's renowned short text "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses" radically transformed the concept of the subject, the understanding of the state and even the very frameworks of cultural, political and literary theory. The text has influenced thinkers such as Judith Butler, Ernesto Laclau and Slavoj Zizek. The piece is, in fact, an extract from a much longer book, On the Reproduction of Capitalism , until now unavailable in English. Its publication makes possible a reappraisal of seminal Althusserian texts already available in English, their place in Althusser's oeuvre and the relevance of his ideas for contemporary theory. On the Reproduction of Capitalism develops Althusser's conception of historical materialism, outlining the conditions of reproduction in capitalist society and the revolutionary struggle for its overthrow. Written in the afterglow of May 1968, the text addresses a question that continues to haunt us today: in a society that proclaims its attachment to the ideals of liberty and equality, why do we witness the ever-renewed reproduction of relations of domination? Both a conceptually innovative text and a key theoretical tool for activists, On the Reproduction of Capitalism is an essential addition to the corpus of the twentieth-century Left. About the Author 2 Title Page 3 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Foreword: Althusser and the ‘Ideological State Apparatuses’ by Etienne Balibar 7 Introduction: An Invitation to Reread Althusser by Jacques Bidet 19 Editorial Note by Jacques Bidet 29 Translator’s Note by G. M. Goshgarian 33 To My Readers 35 1. What Is Philosophy? 44 2. What Is a Mode of Production? 52 3. The Reproduction of the Conditions of Production 81 4. Base and Superstructure 87 5. Law 91 6. The State 104 7. Brief Remarks on the Political and Associative Ideological State Apparatuses of the French Capitalist Social Formation 128 8. The Political and Associative Ideological State Apparatuses 137 9. The Reproduction of the Relations of Production 174 10. The Reproduction of the Relations of Production and Revolution 182 11. Further Remarks on Law and Its Reality, the Legal Ideological State Apparatus 198 12. On Ideology 205 Appendix 1: On the Primacy of the Relations of Production over the Productive Forces 243 Note on the ISAs 252 Appendix 2: Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses 266 Index 307