Apparatus

Apparatus in sociology refers to the structures, institutions, and mechanisms within a society that work to maintain and enforce power dynamics and social order. The term is often associated with theorists like Louis Althusser, who distinguished between repressive state apparatuses (e.g., police, military) and ideological state apparatuses (e.g., schools, media, religion) that subtly shape beliefs and behaviors. Apparatuses function to perpetuate dominant ideologies, sustain authority, and regulate individuals’ roles within a society. Sociologists study apparatuses to understand how systems of power are reproduced and resisted, as well as their impact on social inequality and identity formation.