ABSTRACT
The chapter begins by stating nine propositions that are central to the controversy surrounding Marx and his use of the concept ‘ideology’. Its overall aim is to explain the nine propositions through a close reading of Marx’s text, as well as familiarising the reader with the controversies surrounding the secondary literature. The works of Lukács and Althusser are then briefly discussed to illustrate differences in interpreting Marx’s theory of ideology. The reader is then introduced to some of the contemporary controversies surrounding Marx and ideology. The analysis of Marx’s works begins with a brief discussion of his early writings relating to the problem of ideology. The book then moves onto an in-depth reading of Marx’s The German Ideology. The overall aim of this section is to prove that this text presents all the essential elements of Marx’s historical materialism. Some of the propositions presented in the introduction are then further explained by reference to the text. This is the largest section of the chapter, and is divided into sub-sections, each addressing different aspects of Marx’s materialism. The final subsection critically engages with the arguments presented by commentators. Its aim is to prove that The German Ideology does not elaborate a theory of ideology (or ‘theories’ according to Rosen and Eagleton) but rather Marx’s historical materialism. After that, there is a brief discussion of the controversies surrounding the base/superstructure dichotomy. The final section presents an explanation of Marx’s mode of production and his theory of the formation of ideas.
