Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The concept of ideology and Western sociology
- 2 Approaches to the study of ideology in a socialist state
- 3 The Polish road: fact and fable, 1956–59
- 4 Little stabilisation and great upheaval, 1960–70
- 5 Prosperity and political style in the second Poland, 1971–75
- 6 Propaganda of success and prognoses of failure, 1976–80
- 7 Interlude I: Solidarity, 1980–81
- 8 Interlude II: martial law, 1981–82
- 9 Operative ideology, fundamental principles and social reality
- Appendix: Central Committee Plenum meetings, Party Congresses and National Party Conferences, 1956–83
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
1 - The concept of ideology and Western sociology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The concept of ideology and Western sociology
- 2 Approaches to the study of ideology in a socialist state
- 3 The Polish road: fact and fable, 1956–59
- 4 Little stabilisation and great upheaval, 1960–70
- 5 Prosperity and political style in the second Poland, 1971–75
- 6 Propaganda of success and prognoses of failure, 1976–80
- 7 Interlude I: Solidarity, 1980–81
- 8 Interlude II: martial law, 1981–82
- 9 Operative ideology, fundamental principles and social reality
- Appendix: Central Committee Plenum meetings, Party Congresses and National Party Conferences, 1956–83
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The great political and moral crisis that societies are now undergoing is shown by a rigid analysis to arise out of intellectual anarchy. Whilst stability in fundamental maxims is the first condition of genuine social order, we are suffering under an utter disagreement which may be called universal. Until a certain number of general ideas can be acknowledged as a rallying-point of social doctrine, nations will remain in a revolutionary state, whatever palliatives may be devised; and their institutions can be only provisional.
Auguste Comte, Cours de philosophie positiveA central element in Marx's theory of social formation is his structural model of society, said to consist of an economic base and a political and ideological superstructure. This model has inspired considerable research into economic relations, political systems, and their interdependence, both in capitalist societies and in those undergoing socialist transformation. Inexplicably, systematic research into the role of ideology, especially in socialist states, has lagged behind.
If we focus on ideology as the principal element in the base–superstructure model, we may follow a Marxist approach to determine the ideological importance of Marxism. If we conduct this analysis in a society attempting the construction of an advanced form of socialism, then we can suggest not only what the principal features of the dominant ideology are, but also what role this ideology itself plays in the process.
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- Information
- Ideology in a Socialist StatePoland 1956–1983, pp. 1 - 23Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1984