Rock the A Level Sociology OCR Exam 2026 – Get Psyched to Ace It!

Question: 1 / 490

Which of the following is a function of the Repressive State Apparatus according to Althusser?

To build social cohesion among classes

To manage public relations for the ruling class

To control the working class through force

The Repressive State Apparatus, as defined by Louis Althusser, primarily functions to maintain control over the working class through the use of force. This apparatus includes institutions such as the police, military, and the judiciary, which are employed to enforce the laws and norms that serve the interests of the ruling class. By using coercive measures, these institutions ensure that any dissent or opposition to the dominant ideology is suppressed, thereby stabilizing the existing power structures.

In this context, the focus is on how these institutions function to directly control and intimidate the working class, preventing challenges to the status quo. The other options suggest functions that align more with the Ideological State Apparatus, which operates through ideology, education, and social norms to foster consent and social cohesion among classes rather than through direct coercion.

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