Marxist theory states that dominant ideologies are shaped by those in power, leading the working class to accept inequality as natural. Consumerism is a result of this ideology. However, modern philosophers and human rights organizations focus on workers’ rights and creating equal distribution of power and wealth.
The dominant ideology is rooted in Karl Marx’s theory that most societies share values and attitudes determined by the politics and philosophies of people possessing power and influence. He claims that values, morals and ideals in every period of history are defined by economic and political leaders. Marx believed that the working class accepted the dominant ideology of society as natural and inevitable, and this acceptance inhibited political dissent.
According to Marxist theory, this type of ideology emerged during the late 19th century as countries entered the industrial age as capitalist societies. Marx claimed that people with economic power controlled society and used people without power for personal gain. All dominant ideologies help the more fortunate, called bourgeois, to exploit the less fortunate, called proletariat. The balance of power remains constant through these ideals, Marx believed.
This theory explained that laws, educational opportunities, and class division kept the underclass in place. The workers were unaware that they were being treated unfairly or being used because they accepted the prevailing ideology at the time. Marx believed these factors were important for a functioning society to maintain the status quo.
He felt that consumerism was a natural progression of the dominant ideology. While working-class people strove to get more material wealth, they ignored the corruption of the people in power and the potential negative results of getting more goods. For example, Marx believed that the working class could overlook the damage to the environment that consumerism could bring as long as they could obtain material goods.
The dominant ideology has been the focus of many studies and debates. Some philosophers argue that the theory is no longer valid in modern capitalist societies. The focus has shifted to workers’ rights, making the less fortunate more aware of the economic gap between them and those in political and economic power, modern philosophers believe.
Human rights organizations have probably contributed to a shift in awareness. These groups focus on individual social and economic rights that cross racial and sexual barriers. The abuses of certain groups of people have become the catalyst for creating opportunities for marginalized people and for a more equal distribution of power and wealth.
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