B- Bourgeois Ideology: fubbc Opinion 1Ü
Pierre Bourdieu 1
PUBLIC OPINION DOES NOT EXIST
{France, 1972]
"1 say that to spral is Bo ejrprrw 33- ^nkm, and lli^c rjplnlcci cuiulrrs at Ui espUrldy pranuuncnd discourse." Plöin-
First oJ «I, I abould- ntabs dear ihpt my purpose is ni/l 1u mtzhani Lilly and aiopJiiuL-iJlr denounce p^Cic: opinion pcil j. Elvca if Iben is du
doubt ihit opinion polls are not what they wnuM
haw lu believe, liny are not What many would-be demyshfien. have claimed either. Tic p::lli; car mate 1 ÖEtfillCüDtlibwÖ«! tö social science if they are Hflaled rnjoiLTUtly Willt «iiain precautions-Neither nm I attacking tic people who carry out opjidcm pollflL drey •redWii[.a«rt*Bi job which, if
not reducible Hi list pum und ainrplt sale of protfutU^ can dot In completely identified tt-alli
LifcjrtiiriBic Mleodfift research either.
THREE IMPLIED POSTULATES
Having thus prefaced my Tenjarks, f would lie
to emimfirt[A tllrofc Luspllcd ulSunjpLXJLLS tAIüjCS DiUE-1 be ctinHenned in order Id arrive at 2 rigorous and Mild analysis of opinion pofüj:
—DtsL. cKiy LipidiM poll supposes luMl evcryonecno baye an opinion; or, dated otherwise, "liar.  "-"i-   prnrvi:.li:"-n        ar   :yi:7iirn "Allr.ir.
everyone's iaD.[;ii of pti-jlblbiy. At the rick of
nflfcodinB, a narVHly ukmLXTalicsiiüLiirjHir, 1 tontest
—second, it is . taken :ot cranLed thai- all opinions have: Iba same value. 1 believe Ittel l[ COD DC proven tbflt this us far From the truth, and thai by ^a.iEiferiu6 a. pLuralir/ of opinions which dn Tint have the same- real imporrance, Ehe rcsuLU 1:C very ~L"'"■' "V .:i^'i--d: ir.:l
—third, the simple fact of Mtanj. everyone: die Eame: q-jc3Iiiufl ruLSlltS ÜB Lsypoihtais ifuit there h a consensus nnniit the prublem, that i::, ao agreeoicul about which qijKsiinns one worth aslting,
Tbc** Ehre« püsralar-ss-nuplv, It ECCiIlE 10 me, a Ahnte series uFunilöitiunS whidl cai be tosiDdtven when pP the i^uisuuus for DinbofalogK?] rignr arc fulfilled ist ÜX pathsring.and aiarysuoilbv da[B.
Opinido polls ere often «iüclzcd on Inxfanra] jtOUDds, by chalkngiua Uie T^pT^seoLi'ivJLy of Ibe aanrplCS, for IcUAIWC- CarvenlriE rrjethndi jnesenUy LTjed by Lhe poJlulg iafl[ltm« ctwar, Oli'jMlliOM bairfly
Iba Leu Ttu ongieolly picxaai as a lecoue Irjr Ih?
DudlDT in [VoiTjil, ?TlDUt in J"uiumj| 1972. tL Wli lraiü
nibed 1^ Ijji^ciit HtüHit inj fiixl jmhLübad m Lu Tinyjj ^«rWv (Jf^uk). 31*, January hiMbhtd by per-
miöau nf lhe aulhor Ii «u iranrlaic^ fn:np tbc Frört* h} M^ry C Aimunn. EueJüJi narulaliau OoujTiEliI lur«1 catiun^L f rrnti 1] LMTS. Tub Ls us ilrsl Krvnuh pubbcz.Tian.
«im valid to .tic They stc-rIsd acniiwl ui biasbfj
the queirtinns, ur Läuft BKOIBilOly,. Ol punidinj a blaa idl the fnirnLÜaikni □[ Lfae 4|ncKliDLW. TLll ir lIuw.-i' L-i tho '~i 1 rh. aorl dh±n ao iiuwer \s ifliened by the Far lu v/lucti lit question a föStd. Tbuf, La tplle -of the elementar}' precept bebLod uv. LüciEOSltLörj of 4 qne=bnnnniie,»iiichi rcqLiuTo !hat
one fit1« a J pussiblt acawtta "a ctniic*"', uoniuircis
ilC fnwTiienlJy rnadei cELber In the- tinesiioTja LbeanSeJvca QI LH tbe pjiirioseif ausweis, nr else, the very same OpfiOO. La pmposcd srwciaJ lilncs in tlirlfcnfffflE svnys. TJnLesi uue hcU Laien a. pEepajaJnfy ttirvty. ODS it neuer sure of ruvüisj Enrücai lhe -wbcJe Tao(5t ol posalblc Kspoatca. Out tan thus aurirjpih; a rer.eliLKia af ■■^TLain asHn grviiuj 1 gfcälfil tbiDR to the 2ii£iver wtiinh tmc bKa propimtU rDüte: TJjall OLCtl ör liaOrjL the
imswEn nabrifiaEed, una tüjl üraiL 1 partLcüLarly Ji;i|>;-J[;r.f po^ir.ls querniorj, thus takLng. away :ti(: . lilelibööd. of AtötaLn Boswer Bpptarinf,
THE INEVITABLE PRDBLEIVlATiCS
I [|:*»::-"nrii !'-ii-ik -Mite lire hLues dF Ih.1! kind and it wdllM be taleratffig to irjvealijBic tie BKÜI criDdiLKiELS andeTlyinu; Üwlt zrppaarance. Tlir &iQ0lJo^ist supprwes IbaC nLTthing bappeLis. just by chanLC aiidlfial±i«t.titsrtCaD beeiplairjcd, M«4 of the Limn liey art Etlattd lb Tht VHr.l «jäiiLiOni of the penpte who prcdiKe the qacniannxiia. H-lWCVCT. [iere are. 0(ber t»ctors ü svetl. Tbc fart that Lit prublLiiia(jta devJied by ilit yoOki
■üS^LTü[vt ^re ^ubnrdLnalcd tu a srJEcißc Liint of deiaaLidi ftby iniesEiv^rirja ad* 1he gcneTnlioj; prinripLm. bLli^id Illicit- pJoblCEüalM mOJt irtk who tBD nff^Ti: tu pay Ear en Ljsäiiiüü poU.
ally, ne iindirLoni an anaijsis of a latci; nprinoal üuivbJ OD (bfi FlEOCb pwpk'E Oploloi nf the education systeaa, whiuli was booed da ■ random mrupLc ot ÜKWEfS pven in reply to a qLiestiaunakC Tiuhlishcd and dlatrlbuleij n the Ftencb iieVifpapcrs. To contEuL [lit VoiAdiL^ ü[ üur sample, ivc looked through the Gics ulz. LvnmbeT üf Tesnrdl instilLiLcS, MHabljf IPOP (Institut T^Riipü» n^Opinina PXibLrjiie) «od SOFRES (Swieti. irtUl(JLise -dcf> Fnjquelci par Sundage), tdj all [be qu'ntiDLVS- -dealiE^ wjih ediLcndon. We fourd that Lnore than rwc buadreJ giHädbLU OD the edliealiE«! tyätem Svene prised kjdlc May 59aü, cumpaieil Wltn Lois itUD twenty between LOffil and l^tü. This ' öidiEaLEa Uiat che piiitofcTiislKa v^hich art tmprjaJ by this tind nF OJSBnlsatLorj art fluäfly linkied ta loein-pnlihcal cnnJLaaLure and. are dominalfl by B specific tind ot loci?! deunod. ha olbrr wnnh, lhe jiKiblsnis yuicd ajt puLLKul poublecus. Th« question of edncation, for iEEtance, cannot be pused by t public OJHUk)D insriniie until it OeWfnes 1 politiEnl pmblern. Tbfl drfbloüc« can ba i^inurrimely noted borinei these reseaifb irstiLüiH and those which fenerntc their rriu pmblematiL-s, tl jiot out of 1 dear blue iky, at Lens Vi rh a mnch greater diilaixw fruin a direct and iLCUTJediate social demand.
A tumJUary Mnttstical arjlj-sir.rrflh« qtiC^icmi sisted id dlit aurvcy Enowed UB thai Che fjtji
1
B, Haurg&ois Ideology: Public-C^iinion   135 BOUEDüEtJ
J
IL
LTiajnEity of them wem direoly linked to Ehe politifsiJ prerjornpprkjM of Ibe ^roliul power" If we were trj aniiiK bLLrtcJvtt rlgbt l»w by uakin^ a Hat, and if J wsre Hi zedt you to write (hie five cjurslions wnJcli yinu feet are mosJ  Lmpcalanl in 1be  field of
education, we would siirery reeelve a very ddfferrn: lia boa [now ajcrunlly asked by ibe äpLülöä polls. _ The uuefttino "Should pohrlcA he intracruced into the secondary schoobT" Cor variirioTW on the tb*tue) w» askcii v«iy uCld, vVbLrcia tiK quesilOu "Shiiuld Ibe curricula be modified?''' or ''Should there be 4 change in tbe way dass« «je. tajngtt?'* wai y«i> raiel}1 puiod. 'TJueiliuus Of Jbbyar ipripoTlnjice, at least fjiorn ano:bcr perspectiv.
THE FUNCTlChN OF THE POLLS
Ibe problematic:-proposed by Lhe opinion polls «m-espond. 4o speeiße Lntctesta, Any prohlematic can be aald ic eoncaprmfl 10 apt-cLrb LnlieKtlE, but lb
this parucuIncase the Luteresti wtuch supporri these
pichhrnoiKa are poliiitil lnteiesia, ami (his fact
grjvcriia hü[h Ute- LDcaning cd the jE^p^aica ainju.llu ... significance which is p«n 1n their pahlicau^an. The opinion poJisPatdEiepresentrLmePvn EistruHicntof pLVUllcal aerliOLL! Lis iliuiL smrXhriaut :oi..:.-.-l fa pemapi k> impose the illusion tbat a public opirJ:::i enPLSi and tfiat jt is sinjupfj tbe sum nf a number nf
kudidduaLl opdnjiics^ It Impose* tbe idea for ins tan cc
that in any aiven assembly oFpttcnLe Iber« can ba found a public upinian, which would be lum^LliniL; Like tbe niernge of all ibe opinions, or the average opinion. Ttla ''public upthubu" which is sLarcd col Ibe fronl page, of the newspnpers In terms of
pctoataiLi ',(/■}*& of dit French ate Infa.vniot, j
is a pure and simple nnryeef whüaa fuuLfiun Is to ri~iiicti.il :n:! "acl l/ia: '.'-it hi.1:1: .\ iip!n::>n .iL.liv
given moDient La a iysr-crju -of forces, of lerjsions, nod »bat liiere- d nni h-inj mora inailcquarL (baa a percentage t'.: represent tine ^tate oJopinLoD.
We know that telaiüoLia of force can never be Mduced rr> jelalioDn uf lore*: any cJancLse of power is accompanied by a disonurse aimed at Le^ilimaLiua.
ibepowcj of (base who eiercbe Ll, One wnld even say (hat Lbtittls* lendeiijcy in LtecserjclK of power Lowaidx its self cnocealment as such, and lhal complete power is only TxarLKd when it is fully wocealcd. Slsicd EdnupJyF ibe polilKJan ™t^. yetterclay said "LjlhI Li 00 out sJULfn' lottey Sdya "TublEc Opinign h on nur side."'
Thit a iht fDudamcauO etfeet of ibe opinion
pctJl: il creates Ibe idea Lhal t LmaLilnjCnjs piifc-iir. Opinion cddLls in order to- teBunale 2 nuiicyr and stKnglifcu tbe rtllKitiii of fcxoe npoo which it Is based or make it possible.
TrfEJrNOREPUe$J'
Having stated wy pwpose at the beeknimt, I snail uy to nuiddy indbciijs Iba. opsritioci wrdth produce tbis cdfiscn.sLLS affect. Tbe Sat operalion, Which tenuis with (be Assumption rhat ereryone must have an oplnluoh oanalME in jjnering tbe "no replies." For some nrne now, LnJLuad o! sa/riue of Ifie French are in favor of the l;.s:.- ui.iLatlOdol lMiailrOBCiS,''lthc rsew^pnp;rs <ny
"SOS nf roe Flench BJ* ror. 4D% are BBJjoat, and
\Q% have no oplukwi.™ But ihat isn't cjnxiub tnfocnlaLiOLhr to\r ioslajuce, yon ask people "Arc you favorablu Lo the Pompödou gpveLurntnL?'" Yao repster SCHti "no replies", 2096 yes. JOS no. Vau
can say Ibe number of people unfavorable rs greater
thaji Lhu number ul people fhmrable and rhcie Is t reouirsder of OT yotl CSD re-ffikaLbM nbose
favurable and ibose unfavorable, dudiog ihr "nc npbel". This simp La choice jj 4 (bwiebaJ upeiation of jrejui irorjortance about wblch 1 WMdd Lke to reflect a monueni.
Eu^unalatLt; Ibe "no replies'" k the same as what Is done in an election wfien tfaete ITC bUulk Ot
noU ballot!! tbr, implicit phikaocliy of Dlectorad
BLiTveys La rltuS inrpoSeul on opinion polls- On dose ix;!ii:ii:::Li<in. bovLwer, one fiorij th^l the rate of "no rqidiea'1 b aen*rally higher In wturwu rLao in 1.-il. aud tha! loa margin between men and women increases as the problems posed become EDOtC sjxcifically political, Itia Jj una In lucb aa «xtent tiudl WG were able tu deLenoine, on: of a list of different questions,  which ooes. could bc&t be
considered political, jüh by cvaluatLnj the naarejn
between iho. "no teptleV by women and men. Another factor: the more a ojactaion noTjcerDS pwMems of Laowjedge, tbe Ejeafnt fa ±e mainLc of 'DO replica" helweeo moos^educated and less-educnlejd people. Another cib^ervatXHi; when the qnestiuTJS have W do wftb. elhici] prablems. {eianapLc: "Should LUihlren ba punisbad?'^ -the juaxLjLo uf "no renlLes".between soöil duales l|
slight. Aootbei observarLon; the more a qLtesrlou poses ranflicrual problertu, coiteerns a "ihomy" o.::i'.iihL'.':::>ii fyjdi as a quesdun cm Ihesiruation in (J^echotilovriVia for persoos wbo vo(e OnmnuoniStj
ot EjereiBtes tertsions for a, parusalai catcuory, Lue.
more "DO rBpUes" via be recaind from that category. Id other words, a simple statistical analysis. oE lhe ''no- replies'1 offers jfiloi luiiuun aboun. Ilk rucanloe Of Iba question, aa well as the catcgocy oT pei^Je questSooed, lhe category hetng defined. BS much by the probnbtlffif vt having tit opinion <n alt as by uaC oSüdudonaL ptObaL-ihly oF hivbe a favorabde ur nnlavorable one.
THE IMPOSITION OF THE FfWBLEMATIC
'Ibe scientific analysis oE opinion polls shows
1 jint ihere exists TvcticaLty no caicb-all ptobdeto: no
qnestinn which, is But KbAerpralod Ed funcLiLm of Iba LuLamtS or mo-iota rests of the people Co whom the: question is po«d. Thus the Bist imperative m evaluating a poll is to ask whai queMioo ibe diffuteat caugorltt] otf people llougtl ibey were ariswering. One of the mcsl pemiooos effectcrjf tbe
opinnc surveys is to- put people in a poslilon wncra tncy must btjepcT a quastloä Hey haw nemr UioudaL sbout, or mistakenly answer q dtffeTent question &om thai which was asked, Ibe LQ(C]prel£ujQfl Only hedng 4 record of the oj is understanding.
I stated earlier that the opinion polls could Ek re-used s^curi^aallyi howevei, this auppnsei
certain ptCCaLLlJüneL which are exrijurfed EjecailEC of Lhe social conditions under which the research
E. Bourn-eoi* Ideology: Puhllc Opinlon  lifi BOURD1EU
■nrpHniMft:L!M^f. npejaEg. JuCirmLEÜ Y/Jlü TVAIll ÜUJ1|^>
In be simple, furthei »iaplify Ehe already Rimpüfisii data v^-Liicti ch^y have hecj ji™n, and t^ian Li Tanzhcs
ihL public* ir ic Likely (o Twd ss fobowie: "ifl^h od che
FrUDLll älL" i'j] ibi: lUiOJLl'LUliiLiL'U u[ 'Jii; jLÜruidi. " A Ti^H-iynsinLeiprctBtiunDf Ehe npinänn jinlls wnuld T-Sqijripe Uli EpisEeinnlnpcnl «amlnatinnnf tarfl o( Ibt CüKLioilS aatßd. pllla, cOuruniEiiiflh; Seriem dF Ulis EJlnsUbuni, til analyics dE Eue whcJ: sysiEm at
answEjs, -whicK tntetlwrmimld be theonly w*J (0 Jcnow wbat wete the queetueu. ih* pLMpls taally iLuught Üaty wert üUwcrina;
OiuaciüiE hflvtna to dr> wich monjl itSiies, for
«Bmpk, ibt punishmtDl oi cttlldieo, rcbikina
luCW*CB (CSCLEies aüd atudenls, and so dg, ira prcibLerziE which. art prECEived ajt elbjcaj prebfcmß
asone 4cH«dsluc social hieiairehyh lue w&kliän.
be palidfal proMtlui für Eha Upper cbix;. Oqd af. Iii* dälurlrflu; effedE nf jLiuvey.s k die iTaaiformaröori nf *thical TStpOTlEes iura pc-lin-ill rttjJOGfiea by the sluipJc iitiposiLioiL ü[ a rmtkubr
TUE TWO PR NCIPLES IN THE PßDDUCTION DF OPIMONS
In fad, LhitTe ara severe] priDCipIcä \?tklch Call be UE»d I» generale a respoinift, fbiu üf all, LhEreii -hat COUldT tc taJICd "LHb'LiLal cutnpaEanc^" a [lüUüit which (^imspujids Li a dttcninrjTi nf -i-'m:-.; ■ahizh  is  bnlh jrbitTniY "od  iL^TFUEale, botfa
dürnktuc and coMtalod as juth. rhia "pjaiica]
flomptttöfifi': Li lii NLisaflyiTuliTliuLed- lE.varJEi nith Ehe leval rd eitucnEinn- In Ottier WLJnfe, ilK probHbiLtyof h*™tj*jiäpJiriofj m aUitrt EpjöLi&üa ■*.i>-!i |'i-.^j lmitI Lii: poülk.-J l;r.:!wj;:l^ ::n ha- L-üinpaicJ Eo EtiE pinbibility of coinz tn jt
i< is i (iintliba ot a pccwn's levd of
edtlCBliürj. SOOM iSCOiindaiij variaLkins czn bE otttCIVfedj UriiErtas a jtudEoii inraLved in 2 fiJ-ltfl iii/i^ncTil peraeivEA fnrty-five diffsr^n-l diviSHIH Hö läelEj; of Jb? Parti Sotüababt Uülfife, a *Qidtlle4swi eSMijll'-ti s*af 3KJQ1E- iL all Is aa Elecunn, ujic '±dnjcs hl [enna af Ifjc polllScil p-vfdLtiofil fpr k^ta kfr",
□Enner lefl, «juer, CLSDiIwrlLjhc, r^jiE, fat :ulj1ii, uc
One DE ÜU llitpertinL FaLLi We founi lu lll ramhaFa ttSt  *e JevaEbpeLl  lvu  dint diFüeneiicE Fricial
ca.ifljnrKt wwrid Tis* iüe scalc in s vory ditLVi-ciii w-a/ from Hb[ laJ(eil Lbf l^aülcd by "pDlib'iaiL s--if"h"t" mveLilifaLiuns. CirtaiD seda] ziLiprrrib: USe very jrrtcustlf a JLBflJ EWtko <rf 4lK fiT letti nlBer BW only Ihn LWttlitf, wlilt adj «hen mt Lic-wholt :^uel; an eLccLkid lums irjl Ed ne diE auTCL^üun ai tduilly difrärent spjLii.; rhripe pc^file v/ha- mesEUK in CtDrimuüte alt Süflcd H^tLbcr wirh rtcat vLu 111saj-ui^ in LibiDE'Ers, or Ed tue a bcttSE Image, Ihnse wTki ubs a Hcj)e of 0 f-L> 10 wich rfcüsd iL« Mily- 9 w 11, OsaipHtäce It-mELUiired, ^maag (sthtc Üuup, tha dE^TEE of RiKKt l>f Oüt't pcLTEndün (the saaiE iE cruc nf '"lESÜieUc^iiliETS U3Di±peapl± nnn iriainun^k tliiefrf all Masel in the deviclOLpffleilt of 4 paiöLury. Tbis LTjtnptLrison. (HUI bc puabsd LutliEr. JlliE ai in. 2EErh±ric jHMiTjj'ijD, tbsrE » b. pLrEneqiiisiEC.' ptöf le ttjlhc firai thkot nF tbE vpprt   art aa a "wültJe et anP
find Outw Lhft\ Tiive diMt 50, Uej- cilisL (rate.
pLj*;Ljrual eategonH tO «aatflKt and sLrucrii.x iC|
lLe! tu Sippe« 3. que^tipn fOTIBlIlBttd in the fuU&wtug na^: liAje yuulnr* ärucLiuicdedueaJüna
är a DöD-aEnitEüita Edutatknrf" ie coli t»
CDDitiluLad u a pnliLiu.1 qnestion. ttu j-Lptoiiiurauuii vi IbL LnaLber-cluLd nelncioiistiip h: inii. inbeLjralEd min a. nTcbefrpatj^ "."'sioc. of iuriäty. ]i
«am bo AjjiEidered *s 4 pDliiisd luilslkio by wniE ?.n.-.pre;tnT ntäieri iE i; strifLjj a JuQtaJ Ljueitincj,]jt
111« quss^cnriBLre nbleb I hoalliiüdhI tariier, w«
a^led p£üpüü ""Jr'ür jemj, bs iE pob'Eiul nr nnl 1o ßii üq strile. weai Boejs hjii, pirteipat* fi| * r«l ftBlivalh etcT" We wardcd Jo set j*ik how pwjplE iue tbb LtUkabiaiy; otvklüSly 0n& Qndi vsry ptal ddETere neti acorLbog 1n srKiil ein»;.
Tbc fÜEt «[»ditira for the nmduEtinn gf OjHnJojiä B ftuilö bt ahk UpErosivta gudbon B! heina; p^llLiLjL; Ibc SEDond, colte havinß SHatJlahüd iE. BS bciUf TWfEical, iE to t* ibfc Hb app]y pulilKal «E-tLjfirJtä 10 J[, eaJ«jOrlLU uhicn ma.y be ennrt «e Ie» ajdjsquzLe. moii ar Jen nedined, ehe. 'J'JiCt* an: Fhc sptdLnc craiditifjni tot the prüdjucLHra of OpinriüDS tbc OpjLui: emveyi isiuu In be
Li:i','. 1 jjJLy aud uljlJü[di> FulGUeii wh±n ihey hrsi pcflhilaEE thal ETierynaie; can proLtiJM ill OpdnHHi.
The woMLljiiwcLpteiöSjLliiLj lo whidi p«pfe uMkEe ed LEpinim is mib( I cell "aus uhüdn' (uüliü tc confiiacd wilh "dass oLhör"), af wh.icTi I n-jean 2 KyrtbELii. 47F iTnpixdt vpBdee whieb peOflJfi. DGfVC IflrtrbrtMd ftom ebLkfliüjJ and fmm nliiüh tbe}' .  1: !.:!*.   Luuvnrs  1n  vecy  difFtrfnr  Typtt of
qLVMiFonE. An enainple: I Ihiok lbu upiniuiiü »hiil: ptople cinhauiije ar tflt Lind nF a nnu Dan» berween Udlillilt and VaJEEJÖenoiEE nw$ 4 fTCBE dtl-1
of lüheir wheixwe aud togit (ö a tlafc nibüt Jitdgementa lifce "It b bcBiiürul sxme. Ihe ido ruu^li" 0* "iE WtU WLll-pliyed, tut not vieTy beaiinFui En njEch,'" wbidi appcDr tg bs iiilrraiy, bkn EeMCS und wlors, m pTtfrMy (atuLMblcd by a veiy iyaraudLu; Ociunlplt, a. LilaE elhcs.
THE DtSTOfUPOM DF MEAUIMG
Mnny Ruwers Tvhidh arg. corsifl^iid puhrcnl aiKweis«* iaKBldtj pt'oduced.'lry« lIbs eEbtn a;ji l-hji be- gjviu a lolaly diLTerenl jEüar.in- wben Uusy jnc LJiEEjjjüEled an pdülicaJ ETaimdi-I *hall LUlISIT^Ie
1ib and     will we timf wtüt I have aakl ii fax üom
iblLrao. aii-J IruiCaJ. JtIliL. I mmit rafE7 Ed b. spccUü i; ■!■ >v: _ ;iL LradiLiur., privaliiTi" ri:^r^ poliri«] *iiciolö£)SS in tbe UdiLM StalEi, "in frn-n nytf 1 ty ajMHl of Iba oatuemtifiri snä juLh'^riLaiiajiiiiD !be pupular olnisftL Ibtse keai jrc bajed ofi a Qnnpaxtwai of (De iuEtruiik'afll J«lll[t Of EOrvcyE W ciwtiüCli «lieb tead in.ihöw ÜlziL EacL Lima Lue papillär cLusex nre askfd, LTj pny aninErr, a.hruE prnhlEm^ unncsrdDj iula.lEiä ci\ BUChürlLy, iödiviiiliaJ Ubttry, fnaEdam of Ehe pmi, Cie.-, tbey Lyve anEFW^hüLh-are mar± autnnrir.iTiau than Ehe EitheT cIosseü; so Üib sjk)tul eOKliliiDD ii made Ihat (brre ts n CL>iflia tcn^LED MiMcraiJf yallMS BAd (hc alltlOEmjlail Bad rEprcsaMC valuo* wbirfi have been inLcrürÜHd by Ibs pnpulaf nlflpaea (tilg milhnr T bave in rninii, l.ip^nr, :olcn Arricricjn.dcmL'LraliL valiiEaJ..Thm. Ehe. FlSIIliwI^J
B. EourgeoiE kJtMlogVn PüfilleOilirilon   127 BOLTfii>[e;[j'
y?cL?Li^f i^al ii-isinn u arrivEd aL: 3 wl tai££ "I ■■ fEPodard of Irving nrid JevieJ rnT edwaii«]. lve ii'iLl rrdlKe IbE pTopecisly/ h> repciBalOü and ajthnLriur-jarn3Düh ettj ivhidn jnr LmkEd Ln ]ltw iuüöittt and \qw leveL idiicit™, eEc, aoid we wül Ehjut ptridub; |pod adlCOi    AmeikaD LfcnaOCTKT and wül da
LVilh   < ii'iiniiniM   LJuULt Uli* ibfV   ll.IVft ITl
pr^dce    hnly. Tt npp=ar$ ta nse IhaE Üh troX öf IB&
problEm is t£t mtiDiqj of tbe aTi™=n to cErtain qUtidnns. lnjaglix a gröup äf qittsdCLTlB Hsd tbe fnLLOWif: ''Are yaa fnrEhe sax.u=J □luVracaidCuüC-of CTiaJniciiitWiplES?'', ■'"Aue yxni in novOi id. > 'JBP-jepre^Lv« Adufaiiaü?" "Alft VJH In ta^or of the BEftV syHEjcj?11 Nnw Esufine asetfamr Ijpfc -of ^«lestHD. lütc; "ShoLild proteEwn SP aa änke. wlien tlw Li jnbs aro lbiEa.lci]fcdVr'i.''£llOUjlt leüdbeiE BCE LD FOiidBli^y witft olber civil sen-icr; cnjployüU 3 1:11.4 | ji ■•<■■'<■ i-.l - ■ifliLÜ ? '.:-.=>:i; '.;;a gn:u|a □f qneiLiani ieeel« rtpJiti ätfUtfUEHt lDveTJely in nslBtionj En snzial clnss. The Eint gimip üt qijW-tMHH, ptudl -deal witfa b «raun kind <tf dumije Ln auciaJ
:,:h|-.kii.i. u: Juli -1; :lj^.......■ -iyi--.nl.:. f;:m <::'
social relaboTUL pmvGka napaam Tvhjttl 414 jncre35LDgly fsvorable A nnE asceneb Llie aDciz.1 hieraiEbj (bc ttekrehy Ul che lern] of
cÜUvr.rinr.- in-TCMiiLy,      <|L.L^Liür_-: -^:iiLl. Jl^.I i^lI'i rsBl tTTinEi'nraiaäiinn. of Iba. rblanioaa of. tnfW daüei proVött iiititaalnfily ULlfavarTihle MSwerE je nne axaendi Ehe KiLiaJ lutratcby, TtLUE- 1EC EtibcmEflE HTTie populär rluHS
leprEBii™"' La iiaiLhcT eeik ejm faüs, It iE true to t&c
«Xtent thjt tbe papulaj rlasei Uaid lö bave b ODCtl 1ÜÜJO rigid snri nijdinrita.Tiaa idaa abuul ujOihI pmblftulä LMIKehllmi} Eetadont betnttn pajenls aad diddren lu bEiwBLm Ehe titasa. Con^eTninj pjotiLüBi of pciLidul EErurture, v/ureb lirlajE. Lato pla^ Ehj£ üoaidlCDBECC OC pra-nunTnanritm nE Ibe suuial Order, and »je jmE JjC tonE«vpJwa or tj-nrnfannarwi nF'Ehia minki üf. lelfllLowhips L<lLwLlu i. ■■-.ir-iiah, (tff n^pnlnr claues are mueb mnrE Fa-Lvrable LuwajJ^ a rianSfomiBrion üf Ibe Hjriail. jErucl-urc. WA hiVt KtB bon- certain. ptOCtkmiE poced in May lSfiR-, and nElen pOorly posad, ir Iba düqDLlE bBIWCMtheConnjiitrnJBl party nd -V:-. lefEixtE, is inEimaEeLy üjiküd to the ceotral pfOblCLU ^vtlkij I hayE. jusl Iried Eo jirelcäL, cunrnmiDij Ibe eeLuc« of dL5*n5WL!Fi: penpk pvt in rsply 1g the njuEstiniis askoJ. EbaE ii, tho pnnfiple upod TVlika UMy pfndiice their answarü. Th* OpputiEujn I Lnadfi'bSTween fliese fwn poupj ejI ^nesl-in-TiK amiaJLy amuiinL: 10 die onpo'i-nn betrvttD the ruv) prirvdplei in Ehe LuödLi£bäu Ot Opiniooi: aa aAiLhjfiüdically politKal prinriple and an EEliiul one, and Iba prablea oC Lue »n«rvaEiHn nf Ehe populär d*S4es ü paxndurLd becauaO Ulis dirtLEauLL ii #10163, TulB, »bE( I have caLlad tbe eJfErt of irLTpa^tEoa nf Iba pMbkflIBlle, nn effect adfrsed by all npininn pnLb and poUthsl iDVutigaLium fhi-^-iMn-in' wirh elecdnns), tusoILs !:rin incl ln;n :Kl <|ljl!-.:lji:-- ai-kL-rl «1 n 1 .-ipininn sarvcj- BJC Eüt the rniesbWieu whä±i aj-ü 5 ieil UKetiL for tha pcople qocetiooecL, aud the. [CspcmiES ite tillL mEBjyreiod iü Üunctinn nf die prob leugne,  nsed   by  diTfere-iil   eaiCiljLVfiCd of
tEspondciiis In chelr aenul Eeply. Thui-iliu. dvminant
probbttHöfc, whö« inüLje Is praridedliTthj; fiti nf queadODj pesed dUu±ng ihe ln^t iwd yEnrs by Jhe pLiLLng iDdiluLes, is the pmbltmaJtk wbidn esEEnrinlly intancslfl ih= rirnpLe •jrhn hold poirar
-wbo couEider dictnstEV« to bc weLl intomiibd *bam
Lbä jntAui of ür^iikiiig ibdLr pOuticaJ Büliön. Trdi pmblEmatiL e VEry UDEqLLaLly Qvie^cGnaE by tha -difiCKEtt EnciRj clASEes and h is Lmjinrtan.1 En nnlE [Lue ibt dLffefenc aodal cLbiks are nmit or lesa apt Ea pmihiET a Luuater-pEuhlejiuiÜL. LU'iiLLrakil; Ehfi. lepttiOD to a EElevisiriii debaEe betneen SerrarjT
Schieibor audGlwaid d'EHaLDE, b poLUaaf inElihjre pnsedquestäneis.litE 'Tssuocesh a hmetinn aftdenU [ntelEicence, -woiV, permnnl UTirtriT" The ajiswers : L-ctL^'td KLicakd notlüug ahout objeerive mith, bnt du, in fa£l, repLy tu Iba Q/iainiuti "Ta wliat UlaaE *re the -diftererit social ctuses oncucinris nf tbe objeettre Jaws gouc rodQg. the u a. 1=^1 'ü-l^- 1 of cnltinü
capiLaT" iE eüilld ba laid £eiwrally lba[ Lbc iBCk Of aiLTsrinmjieES of Ebese laws injereajas olw
dfüccds (bc Eodal hjcrarcbyh bd4 in the piewni
aEalB üf 60rtervr tha ptipuLu LLSäSö ait JlajlitutljJy n-i/Elified tvy LhE Rdinnl s}Tneai. Ose caa uadantaad wby tlie Btrachmcin to the rnylli of tafcnt, of rifini LEuuiispi thi* sthool syiiEoi. oi ibt impsrtiably of che f chnol System, nf ibeoquiLy in LhcdiaLritnjlijo-L-il.fjbt; BjWOldJrJE 10 skills, m,, jtvery strnna in the pnpular alasses. mwa-e es niL\GataM*i-proMMa^ fnr a fevr intallEctLizls bul it dqss doI have siLiäl fome even IhrsvLih it hjE h:en tnlen 11p hy a Eerr pnrtiesnnd En^iupn. T^.epnpaLu-clnssesxre thm ekjE ennsdaua nf Lhe ErjLh üf tha. mtihaiikmi; and ikty CHjirrert pjndiHe a cnantej>^imblEErLat§= the wbota
Eaiattutle of social «Kkatiooj-. pfonihiL* it bebg
■ I I l.iHed. Wt micliL add Ihct iL ii maE anOLt||h ftrF ■ pETrytOpii'l Lnt.->iLL; prnnjam EbE eltulj^Ie aga.in£t1he .i>.iLj]la.rj . [r&näJitiiäiOiL    ul ■ LuJtiLBl ■ CBplM!
'■^IkuiLik: eiulL" ii Mibject eö ün aanx laws of diFfusinn as idenlniry. A sdealiGc prnpnsiLiDn mcb ai ''cuJtnlEtLMipitBj it tLBEWindttenl hy 1he BchrsnEnnd
by lIil fajoJy" ii Lclt a papaJ bull -uu Hrtb tontroL:
One '5 nmly prEarhinjj Ed LhE coaivertEd. It is düFiajed BWOrdipP, tn «tlnin U-ws; rhe prnhabiLity thai Et will
be fiDLapud by ädsat aud i*jecied by oLhers caa bc
daEanr.inad SDdu4ogirally.
PnOBlUZED OF1NI0N
Tha ilHr* üf übjeCtlvirv tflKEB LüEO an oniiuort SUfVCy by AsLdDj! qnestinns inlhe moss nenEralEEnns M aj 1n etve equaJ diaaca Eo all puuibla ansu^rt. lu «allty ODS COUld nsV if the mnst perfectly rianmus □pirJic jurvey La not oh Ja Ftalcti (bc Impctidves of □eiinrnlity and sdandfic abjaedvity bjb nvarriddCd antireLj". Ratber (kaa Hitiug "Some peopfc "e in n-var of birtb ajaLroi, trtLtrS fltüitii: hflW IhOUt jmju?...", Li would ]Hi"Tde a serieE pf erplrdi pcsiEincii -taJum by ijrciurpa ebdad 10 «aLatiLält aüd JjflhjSC nriininnL, ai- llini penpje Doiiid place Ehern» seJrtsiuM in itrlaLüa W a^Luafitiull lu Wblch ±C/ DJUEt ioveDt bohn an. nnsuerai -well as a prob lern alic, bul in naladim 10 pjiLhltiBaJtifis aud EtipOiHCa nfalch. bB^c .. atready been pr-epared- In flöier wnrds, Ibe upuiiOQ Hir^a^WLMlMLeLfhiBuE [Olaallny Lf itlOLfillj viplnJed rhu ruleinfübjecdvity andgavacoupld IbC jnearEtn
& Bourgeois Ideology: Public Opinion   12& BOUED1EU
srhunie flusmscrves re they really do b real practice, Id reLation. 10 already formulated opinions. An a
bypo<beFai, imajdnS a! a given moment a problem lit-w LcaehipB. wticra all the ojlumj3 aEG known m advance-. A. content analysis. 0# tbe £cneTnl press, the uTaoe uninn pcess, the political press. oln., WOUfcl he (bfrbflEiE &H B SOTt<rf n^apwhicri would contain ail lh* kuLiP.'n pusitiunJ. Anyone who propose? a prjjLtk-n which in not on thi map would be oanjiditred cclertre or incoherent. Every opinrdn d o'nJECimty sitiutusd in celadon Ua a slews ot tmiau positions. Ok commonly apeaka of "tidrinj, a p :!.i-i'ir.": the expression musL be undersEOOd ba Its slruogtst sense; tbc poeiHons are Here, before <n and we tdtf Lhcun. Bui We (Jo not lake Ifttm lap-bazardly- We take the positions wrnch we arc pro-dhrpus6d IO lake In fUBeTiuO of CUT positirm in a cet. rain domain, Kn" EsamplE, in tbs- idEcJJccdjrL dooLtidi IT a. given lppnifnij we cud say that an individual, given lhe panlcilnLT clKUnjalwices, has a CCnain probability ol taking oils position LeibeT thauj aulQtbcr. Obviously there s □ small margin of freedom, bill tllftEfr BK poaiUomj Ptutfl are pnsed with. greater immediacy and Lorce. A sleorous anaJysJS of ideolojpes. should seek to Explain Oil rel.'.liou hstWCCU Ui; HtoCliirc oE popirions -.<-, ae 1aken and ibe structure <jf ifift range of positions
already objectively occupied.
■ Iairlvei»wailTfl*prol)*empFlhefDreEaii-valul! of npiiuun tuJVeyt. Wc know Lull opinion surveys, v.-,ll-.:r f. r lertain MccidenLs, jaw a liiel DEflcaJt TBIC Tegajdinj CSecripus, hut thfiy Mm Id fail when oon DMafHUM £LTi Kity J«SU]f wi(b a later one, whenever there has been in inLd^tiiii^g CtLSiE-J_ii uitiCf w^rrls, the opinion surveys capture iruite well Hie. jtruCtilK <A opinjom BJ a tjneji gnpment, is a ;tahle sifxiatian;, but Ibe/ lTju luj[ oj^CutO (DC pCriEn-tnl SD6W of flpinian, end men: tsacLly, Hub mOW-loerjt □! oplDJOa. Thd5 occur* bEEaiise Ibey capture Of uiUDiiiiB UtUaJlljOJi Mdh ha D0[ th^twl Eituruion ID wbitb opuaibec are- farmed, and b4Ca.tLK rhcy porteivt th# CfWUOfJE tteQHelvei and out tin-onsjciinj LUEKuLkiuE witch pjodticc djem. There ii a HWuferahlE dLtTerence beLictHJii the LTpfubuu wJlKb ptOpk produce ID an ardfida.1 iLlmtkia nicb a* a survey end lb* OpLilittu lix? prouhlW 10 a jl-tuadaD cloECT lo this daily-Life slIiulIijd in iVliichl Oplnopffi 3JC QfTtifrinntad and rnnfirmrdi juchi je njn^rHirjLtrl amung p*oplE of Ibe same milieu, etc. Thus, io a psythnlnpLjil iSfrtrilutOti we asied KD people ta libit tn«ir nr/ininn en the' IcnL'Lbi ul LwO pueeca of jjielal, wtalcb were in. tart lbs FiainE bnglb. Afler-wnrds, vn took tiLuC of ibe punrilc «icfc and. aslned. them ro ?ny thai tlx Evu pi4«S of ulftlat WOK not eh&Clly ihje mme Lenjjth. Tbea we asked all Llit lea people Ibe fcifilt quesriOD a Kcocxt lime, and Faund tbit -dje tcutti porso* now aa>a ibtn «t Orst be dltHJiJjr (bat the lmy> nieces were Ibe sane Ibeiulu, but ll SCODJ W him lh=t they'ie nrrteiacIlj-lbE hide Length, e1c. The SLEualiaii in which upiaHicn ire- Lbrmcdh in particular n dms* of ctuIt, is of jJus EypcM peophi are Cited ■a-ilhalrrady &ffLwd.opin»nK,
npiruoni uphjold by mLain ffQIipS lud titty DJUEI cJiDose hehvEeu upiDiurei bssajun thjE-y uiusfl cIlcql 'betweED grnups. This. is. the principle behind th&
puiiitc\littg $ífwJ prochicEd bp a crújs: ode nim dKtQS8 MTweei BO^rit who define thenBelvei pnlitically ainJ-iMiů juittaíLnply utfiůtlhtUpasLíitin :n fiinction of expticilL].' pubtbczl piicjciulu. TnE cm. pOrlaljE ibillf Ll (hit the opinion iirrvEy tceab) púnlie Lipmiun Luac tstfknpk alMROf uidĚYidflial oplnjonj, jdtbeced in Ba LtuluJIud siLuaLiLv Hl™ tfe mdividLnL !. r.lvf.ly ripjeHit on řwtated. optnlLii. In real utiLaLiuns, ůumiůas iit foEOM end tezBLianj of opinions a*re roofJicti of Eg=ces. TalLnn; a position □IL aiiy piLlJFdlst problsni menns chfhTsin^ hthaitLn real Hjoups, wJirdl kadí ua to Se* DaEU die jeoanrl nosLiibiEfc, lha aatuupllclil lhal all ůpiůjDíiĚ ace.aqmJ, is.' totally unfoiiDded.
AnDtlusr Lav cad be deducted horn our analysis: 1tie more one is involved in a certain pra bit in, the iuorc one wiáJ be inlcrested. w it arid the nwet <:;íliií:>iik ŮSVt bavt ibout it, GoLoj bfliCk 10 iha exaiTple riF the oducaEiun s^zlem, we find taal Ihe Lite of rfip-oui is. viery closely relaled. to one'i penscual pit-juiulrv to rhe cditeatlon irtteni, ejlkcr as an employee, professor, parent or Junniir sludinL, and the pTOlMhiliry of one's, having power aver rhi is sub id qucsdan. MobilLwd opiuioa b -the opioJ«i of in HuinLiaJ people. If Hue MujlíLct ol EfdLK.aliua. acled in fooction.cJ an i>pinioa pnUi(oi even e-sijpor-h'.iul :4ad]rLJjj of n poUf, he sinnnld noido trtintht doss wLbtl Ihj aera rtallyaa půLtlíLaů, Lů ítiponst 10 the lelephone l- II-. lbe ■■ Ir^u: Lhe iLireLLur li UiO Eco]e NonrnaTe SifnerieuTE^ or from □ deuj^edc
In reality Ji* acta much raEtufurxdoaal forces of
actually formed opinion, which, eoler his Eeld of vision onif 10 Ibe extent 1hat Ihty b*VE power, be-.
canst itjfcy Ltavc aLready been caoblUecJ.
INCLINATIONS AND OPINIONS
Id outer 10 forecast, 6w ETamrile, whnl mil happen, to (tu uoiveisity ivsiem Id ifat Hilt Bon years, I LhinL 111 at Ibe underjtauiliiisc (if mo\í<li£fJÍ (jpirtJťM ia eisennn], However, at ihe snme tLm* a reading ol ibe oploloi iTir>iey can alio hcJp us la rjisanver sr/rrKlliĚn|f whidi dnes nnL jiel eiisl ha 1ha sLtiEtof an nprninn-nnd which can suddenly emerBS
in * tinie. of uilaLa. Ey oplDlon I mean proposidoin
which ;ire tbruiuteLed in a cnFiereoL discourse
EliLisc people wbo oV> aor jn&vier or who ny dicy
have nu opdoiou. jeaDy ba^e jiuoucaiun? I drinkIbxA ;aiirJuJ1bi ''rwn!riiea''iHrirrLuL7Tne2m5.1hAl1htirLcUna-Lioiis of otnain cale.e/>rbes of piof It caiinoi atiiin ihe statua of opinion, that ia, the aiama uta fonuur
InteddascnLirse wliirhaims.alcohereooe.^njd intends
to be heard, inn posed, etc In isiat útosÚBn*, wftti*
[orniultkd 0piÍuunifireíIfir4!ÉolJ, pEopLs who had. DO opinion will nulchnccsE one haphaaacidly. LL i-"--!
pcjcelve toe problem as being, political (frf
worSBCt, rjuiiljida of salaiji Or of work cadences), they will choose in terms nEpnlitical oompElenee; Lf ihe proMcm if one ■which uScy *3 doi pejeeiv* * being political for ilieniftepresfjue icladonshlpí
within the company^ oi if the: uranism is nuť }t?t clKirly pTTCii'ied! rhey wiLl choose try what is called daSJ [iitLuj^l., bill which has norhinft K do with instinct: it is a syituni oC deeply uncuruscioiii IrjcLiH.-atioos which is Ihe principle, befaind innumsrahle ulKňces in estTcrDCiy difFereai aTEat ranjini fJ"0101
&■ Bourgeois Ideology; Public Opinion  1Z9 hi>URDLEU
aesthericj to evctrdfly eoaoofiulfi djcetalouE. Tie traditional ODLmLOD. aiLfvtva prúduLE Ihe butane slTect of .důSlrůiUin^ simultaDoctisLy berth the study of piúHiuie jrauris and opuiion, nnrj. 1be irud/ of-rJJs-pailtitmi which cannot be expressed In the fond uf aD explicit disflrlme. Tlia.1 is why Lhe opbion jLTvey. in Us present use, is incapable of ecoeenrinj any kidd of rcaEooahle nfedjctlon abwiL wtrat would -l.".p;'c:l i :i a Cn^Ls k Lualioa.
OPINION POLLS AND ELECTIONS
Let us imagine a prrrnLem hbe the educnlion EjsLem, We couM aaki "What do yon mink of lhe policies u[ [this Miniter of Educatirm] Edgar Faure?" This, type of nmesdon is very Efluct. like an cLecaOtaJ atLTVay in IliaE the answer ifuasn't teU lis vtry much. We could then goon and ask: "Areyou in fawr oJ briqEinB pnllLlaho Here oft ílud a vety dear divĚinn; but even so, witl-in "h:: nipír i" i nHie COmpI Lit
InreliecLual fractinns of Ibese classes tend in he in fci'.'Lii. but wUh lasCivalions. IT we lolluw wjlli ano*ner quesnon: HICnn teacheti ff> «1 strike?",
v.'c find n sharp djvtaionb the answets. Among tne
popuJar elates there is s kind of traasrer nf spEcifLr
poQtical DompEtEoce jind people know ?iaci|y what
to tay, Wo. IJOuld alio ait "FihuLLkl the llutíctiLe ba rrjEuJuruLtdT'" ''Should grades he based on EuaJ
examsí" ''Sbudd paitota be rcpreacdEed «a
reacbení' CDiLncLts?"' Sbould competidve exams be
done nw*y wiihílhi and so on. Behind lne onesdon "What ski yod dunk oL (he policies of Edgir Fnure?" there were alL tfiEse other qneittions, nod people inimedJalely PaOk a poutkn bassd on somethinn; which a £oor[ r, neslioonairE could or.ly grasp If it used ai least liity ujuesiiocu, whuea variaubos in every direction could then he obsetned. In the cate of on* rypo of qiteidon, Ibr-DpiniimK sroiilr" he related positively to the position in the social hteiaríLy, and úiamOLucr, thej would be relaled nefahvefy, o-t perhaps, jnst n hd, or up ro j Hitain point, or even not ai ad. Thus. Fhen one :i... a jeoeral questínn Like the ace about. Faure úne acconjulates phenomena wtlch are Eelaled in very diffefedt ways to soúM iíIhíí, Wbac fa
intůfOllLiig \i Eliat sjíecrSLiais ,itl pOliLkaJ SOůlology
hane noticed that the itlatiawbdp between toeinl
■ťJass, and practices, and cfjiioions, etc. *n'h5ch :.: Usually útrierved in. almost every area uf bucial pcaciie, if very *eaV when ir comes, to electoral
phenotnena, to the degree ihat aoene of ttcm do not
hesitate Lu cuodude Lhat there Ls ou relatimi iť*ha.1 fj-
ever bclween toclal clias and the fact of votbf for lhe tjijbt or for Loe left.
In nality., if we keep in mind that an eLectpon posea Lti a ilogjis SycjcroLk queiLiím *hai tail only be rcasnnnrjry linieTFiivid in two hundred questions, and thai some people measure Lů Kutinic-icis and otter in kilnrnelers, ctonj with so many nther Variables, oh will tealLit tnait Ibe act of voting It a LjuosLkmnf chance. Perhaps 1be teiLuUoiud<iuesLioa ot tbe je[ation&3lip betweED vocincr and. social r!
sboujsl be ptMcd b tbe oppoilic Tray: why La tttere in
apile- of everytlung, a relationship at aJl. even a
week doe? Why does it nnfl í Imply follow ,i dlaJiibu-tion cuTve? There is a very p«at tbrtiefcy in -eLerjrOTaJ optnioúí: the opřmoo expressed oy a rule is defined in an esWDtJBJJy necadv* Way; uhere are pointa hsyonú which one cannot pan, yet miliin Iht'i; dť-ined li niií, -b^it. t CtrEain Icl.«ív. ThL; is all tbe, aiotc triH when the. stralesr^' of electoral campaigns is to obscure lhe quesnojlt and eonceal the dLfJetencrE between isujdldaics in cudsc to win
LMiUc^jdod AU this leads one ro axk what is
Lha hinction of bntb tbe electoral Fystem and 1bc
opinion turveyE-i witOeC prOptrliui arts jo simiLiar. ■ TO pul Lhings In very £ross ternjih I bcljevt thn| 1be
BTectwal syflem In an Lamnneni wbosa very Ltuiic
tends In attenuate cooflicLS 2nd differences, and
thus naJrurraBy tendi to heoaBaeivaLlvfc. W« cad tuk
ourselves wtuntwe are really doing when we Uíí tllH
nsirumem. One tůuld d/aw the. Lundicsinn, perhaps, mat i; is really better than ne thiok and we ibrnjld continue lo use Jt. A nvolduonary party wfaleb wants to Increase ili lErengTJi in tbe emrtinj relations nf Force, bHtcd on Ibia analyEUr Can dsvielop COLurfej-prublemiuca as its main strategy, syjEematicaliy using (he procedure lilatuicdvely med. ÍQr 5janBruriocL5 i^tbe oounrer-smilcey of ''(15 the same difference" asa reiudal of tbu coohleoerucV The ptoblcnt of a party which has denned iuc ObjóúhvcS Is uul lo provide answers hut 1o provide people with Ibe means of being thn prodncers, nnt □[ Lheir ansn^ers, birt of l±crrqarstvifii, and in doing to pioditce their meana of detense against qoesunns which are inrpused upon IfiEm dimply h^cause lhr^y
do not bitvě any otbera,
In Hnuihec perspective, it conld hE concluded
rhar just *s people tnuM be taLi^hitoeiialn Ifiiogs-in
ůctiuol befjure they can go to a museum^ if electoral
contests *t-e lo be less absurd, Chi dlAer»»
Uri_ 1!il icii^ibc-L ;:<i: ".claims í:: rhc ilccrr?:! sysiem and reahty njust be BE- small Eta possible, II Other WOTda, people. úuoSt Ileve the moans of
producing opinions; nhcj ntusi EhoieEoro have the Luoana to appíOpriatC diem. WbaE this means is that from primary school an, people must have B real pat rtjcal education.
Out ruifjlll abo be led. to ay: I do not want to play the elednraJ game hecause in the CTÍErÍD£
Eitnicrureof so*ktyh ritb thep^-cic-ui disLributiunuL
LidEuraJ capital being one of the factors which. rleňne.1 nfie capacity for proiujcin£ OpiniOIlE, It IS Bd tlhlfiiOEt m believe that equallry caut he adaievod b tb* raring. bOOTb. ll could ba concluded Ihat only active minorities are cajinhle os'mohiLiio'nE opinion, These very diffeEcot conjclualona eould ba drawn,
ajnung ucben. What is jure is Ihat by startying uhe
opention of cjpirjon polls one fcts an idea of the
way ihla paftitTUiaf lype- Of pull, Luc- ulecluraJ survey, fboedcois, and the effect EE produces.
In brief, in tayiag that puttie opinion does noi
tKÍE-1, [ ůi£-in It důtS not eliat In Lhs Eorm whidi ^rnrt pt!upJe7 whose existence depends on this Lllciijcin, wVmid have us befc;Tt, ^T ptescnt, lbire iar Qú lbe -uúe- band, naahifiz»d upininn, FarmulaEed rjpininn, pressure poiipf. mobilÉed around fi 5>5lem of iiiterests; and! ao Lhe ůEhei, ctrtnld uieliualiooa,
B. Bourgeois Ideology: Journalism 130
Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR)
ON JOURNALISM AND OBJECTIVITY
opinions in an implicit state which, by definition are not really opinions, if by opinion we mean a formulated discourse with a pretention to coherence. What I have been considering here is the definition of opinion 'which is> implicitly used in- the public opinion survey. It is not my opinion on opinion itself. It is only an explicit definition of opinion as it is employed by the people who produce the opinion polls when they ask people to formulate opinions or to take positions on already formulated opinions. This is what I mean when I say that opinion, the sense of the social definition implicitly accepted by those who prepare or analyze or use opinion polls, simply does not exist.
(Chile, 1971)
In capitalist society, the mass communication media serve the dominant classes. This is generally accomplished by an attempt to impose the supposedly eternal universality and validity of the bourgeois ideological worldview. The techniques developed by each of the communication media have been conditioned by mechanisms which assure the fulfillment Of this ideological function. Furthermore, the communication media—especially in urban centers—have acquired a decisive importance in the coercive action of the dominant classes.
These observations have all become near-platitudes; nevertheless, any mass media discussion today must take them into consideration. As precarious and undeveloped as they may be, these considerations are important, since they not only challenge a particular form of action of the dominant ideology and the bourgeois media, but also directly concern the action and ideology of the media workers themselves. Furthermore, such a discussion poses the general problem of ideology, its nature and development and the techniques by which it is transmitted. The discussion is important, therefore, since it not only concerns the specific field of the newspaper worker, but because, in order to be adequately posed, presented and developed, it must also incorporate a more general problematic, one which transcends the area of journalism and confronts the framework of society as a whole, understood as the manifestation of human practices conditioned by the mechanisms of production.
Although this discussion of the media, the role of its workers and the sense of their possible transformation is in its first stages, certain basic concepts can be noted. To the extent that these concepts are introduced into the discussion in a concrete and creative way, a critical self-consciousness in journalistic practice may be furthered. Moreover, they hold the keys to an active and fruitful incorporation of the media and their workers into the political tasks which are advancing the struggle waged by the oppressed sectors of society for the achievement of economic, political and cultural liberation. _
This text was a working document presented at the First Conference of Left Journalists held in Santiago de Chile in April 1971. (For another contribution to the conference, see the inaugural address ot President Salvador AUende to be published in Volume % ot this work.) Trans-lated from the Spanish by Maiy C. Aitmacn and Arturo I. Torrecilla. ■ English translation Copyright International -General 1978. This is its first publication.
B. Bourgeois Ideology: Journalism   131 MIR
I
Every social practice in bourgeois society has been invested with an ideological framework which justifies it, gives it meaning and tends to maintain its status in function of its position in the ensemble of social activities. Just as the concrete action of a psychiatrist, a writer or a politician have their nature and meaning assigned to them in bourgeois society, the practice of the workers in the communication media has been given its ideological basis, its particular social role and its general significance and direction.
One of the pillars of the bourgeois conception of journalism is what has been called "objectivity", a notion which has practical as well as moral implications. Throughout the history of journalism, the requisite of objectivity has been elaborated and proposed as a way of approaching reality, as a mechanism for transmitting this approach, and as a desideratum, the ultimate moral goal of the profession. Thus objectivity is not only a formal requisite for the isolated journalist: the journalist himself has come to accept his activity as a synonym for so-called objectivity.
Now, what is the nature of this objectivity?
First of all, it supposes the existence of an exterior reality which must be described "such as it is" by someone possessing the adequate skill.
Second, it implies that the viewpoint of the person responsible for the description is capable of selectively penetrating reality, discerning between what is important and what is in contingent, what is worthy of being described and what is not.
Third, it demands that the description be self-contained, in other words, that judgements between good and bad, for instance, not enter explicitly into the description. Any judgement would thus belong to the world of effects, the result of the reader's interaction with the description: journalism, therefore would be a practice of effects, and the objective description, rather than being responsible lor the judgement would simply be the source of the individual reader's reflexion. According to this theory, the description of reality "such as it is" would act upon the individual consciousness which would be responsible for giving meaning to the description, lending it political value and interpreting it in terms of a particular conception of the world.
Fourth, regarding the technical aspects them-* selves, objectivity presupposes the elimination of the journalist's subjectivity, reserved exclusively for the process of selecting material and for his "intelligence" in discerning between what is important, what is "news", and what isn't. "Objectivity" also influences the practice of news production, and the norms detennining how news is to be transmitted: a news item must be clearly written, detailed, stating the "how, where and why" of the event. The "how" and "where" imply the description of a particular event and a particular place. The "why", according to the demands of objectivity, must be presented only in terms of the opinions given by the event's protagonists and witnesses.
Fifth and lastly, objectivity responds to a
notion.of the reader which is peculiarto a societyin which the roles of individuals and groups are strictly assigned, and in which the division between manual and intellectual labor implies that only a select few are capable of generating ideas and communicating tbem while the majority can only receive the communication, even if these communications are alien to the events in which the receivers were actually the protagonists. Insum, it is a conception of passive readers, who are suited only to take in the news each new day so as to better forget the news of yesterday.
Why must we criticize this so-called objectivity? Because by analysing this notion point by point, it will lead us to some very concrete conclusions.
1. Does there exist an exterior reality which can be described "such as it is"? The only reality which men know is one which is modified by theii consciousness, since the act of knowing corresponds to the arrangement-of observable, data by means of a highly complex, but thoroughly human and historical mechanism, present in every individual and corresponding to the society in which this individual lives and to his particular place in that society. The idea that there exists an exterior reality whose facade can be perceived without any distortion or falsity is a conceptual error, but one which is a part of the ideology of class society, the ideology of the dominant class. What exists is not an exterior reality, but a certain knowledge, a humanization of reality, produced by individual action and conditioned by the totality of society. Therefore no description, even the most strictly scientific and seemingly free from subjectivity can escape an ideological connotation. Since the ideology of the bourgeoisie, the dominant ideology in capitalist society, is a false consciousness, the bourgeoisie believes that it knows reality when it actually knows only the apparent reality of and for capitalist society. Likewise, the concepts of freedom, or nationality, or labor and capital are rationalized, ideologized by the bourgoeisie's need for domination: freedom means freedom of property, which is at the same time slavery for those who are not property-owners; nationality is the nationality of the economic and political interests of the national bourgeoisies, .which simultaneously.implies a negation of nationality whenever those interests transcend the national arena and become imperialist; labor is "What capital makes possible, what, the owners of the means of production allow the workers, even though, paradoxically, it is the labor of the worker which actually creates the existence of capital. Thus, as we said, the concept of objectivity is part of the ideological framework of the bourgeoisie. In opposition to this exterior reality, described "such as it is", there is a different reality, one in which the oppressed classes are the protagonists, a society in which they are excluded from power. In their search for their rightful hegemony, in the search to bring together their fundamental action and their mastery over society, they generate a new ideology, a new conception of the world, which is not objective, and does not want to be. It is the ideology of a world in transformation, in which the