Thus:

"ideology", though not a tellingly descriptive term for (constant) public manipulation, (false) propaganda & the sort of false consciousness it desperately seeks to feed, gaslighting, is - I think - a term allowing a certain optimism (that walls of disguised exploitation can be broken, with sound approaches (incl. emotive exposure) - though sadly, often also with the personal experience of deterioration first.)

As to b): - briefly then! Here misc. suggestions. Hegemony, deference, etc:!

Hence:

"ideology" is permanently fragile, precarious: thus, feeds of BS lies have to be pumped on a very regular basis (as the "ideology" doesn't stand up in any logical, rational, honest or generally useful sense - except for its pumpers).

IF "Ideology" is a farrago, the question is (how) to engage (not deaden into apathy or belligerent stupidity) people's interest in what is actually going on, what is actually perpetrated,: & HOW IT USES & DRAGS THEM down too!

See 1 & 2: longer 3 & 4.

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