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Systems of Ideology and How to Subvert Them

Article

Background

The ideology program was held over three days as part of a broader summer course titled Building a Sustainable Future. While the course covered a range of themes related to sustainability and the environment, it also addressed critical topics such as capitalism, racism, borders, identity, and gender systems. The program’s foundation was a research paper focused on ideology and its intersections with class struggle in the environmental movement. Framed around the theme of ideology, the program sought to challenge the notion that contemporary society is “post-ideological,” exploring how ideological systems shape perceptions of the world and self.

Approach & Methodology

The program followed a structured narrative: it began by questioning the “post-ideological” framing of society, encouraging participants to recognize the pervasive role of ideology. Through this, the program introduced different ideological systems and their influence on understanding the world, followed by tools to critique and explore alternatives, including Marxism, decolonialism, anarchism, and degrowth. The workshop team, led by the Tessa, consisted of five facilitators who collaborated on brainstorming, designing, and executing the sessions. For the research paper, Tessa worked closely with an academic mentor, who provided literature recommendations and guidance on structure. The paper, titled “The Instrumentalization of Class Struggle in the Climate Movement: Reasons, Challenges, and Approaches,” is currently under consideration for publication in academic journals.

Impact

The direct beneficiaries of the ideology program were a group of approximately 30 young people, aged 15 to 19, who attended the summer course. This program aimed to enable participants to make connections between various socio-economic, political, and environmental issues, fostering a holistic understanding of their interconnected nature. Indirect beneficiaries include those who may read the research paper, which contributes to ongoing discourse among climate activists on class struggle within the environmental movement.

Next Steps

The research paper is currently in the final stages of preparation for publication, with Tessa actively submitting it to journals. In the future, she envisions expanding the scope of the ideology program within other courses or adapting it to different audiences, continuing to refine the methodology and exploring further interdisciplinary intersections between ideology and sustainability.