Theories of ideology : the powers of alienation and subjection

The emergence of ideology theories marked a re-foundation of Marxist research into the functioning of alienation and subjection. Going beyond traditional concepts of 'manipulation' and 'false consciousness', such theories turned to the material existence of hegemonic apparatuses and focused on the mostly unconscious effects of ideological practices, rituals and discourses. Jan Rehmann reconstructs the different strands of ideology theories, and applies them variously to the 'market totalitarianism' of today's hi-tech captialist society.