The Return of Ideology

More than 60 years ago, Daniel Bell proclaimed the "end of ideology." Indeed, the concept of ideology in the social sciences and in political psychology was considered anachronistic not so long ago. Those who did use it were considered ideologues themselves and sometimes worse. With the rise of populism in the last decade, this has changed, and more scholars have begun to apply the concept again. However, most publications using the term do so rather loosely to denote political ideas and beliefs, this way circumventing the contested critical connotation of the concept. The aim of The Return of Ideology is to strengthen the social theoretical potential of ideology not by ignoring but by addressing its immanent problems. It does so in three parts: first, it explores the concept's ambivalent and contested history, beginning with its Marxist roots and evolution; second, it examines the methods used to study why people hold onto their beliefs even when it's against their interests; and third, it presents empirical studies of current ideological phenomena such as populism, racism, antisemitism, intersectionality, and conspiracy thinking. Accessible and comprehensive, this book offers valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding how ideas shape society today.