Decoding Ideologies: A Gramscian Guide to Reading Ideologies in MOOCs and Beyond

Abstract

The chapter begins by positioning MOOCs through the lens of Marxist political economy and its relationship with the broader platform economy movement in higher education. The analysis touches on the tensions between MOOCs’ market-driven nature and their association with the open access and educational commons movements, suggesting these platforms reinforce rather than resolve educational inequities. The chapter then delves into the landscape of ideology critique, and despite not deeply engaging with these broader and deeper debates within Marx’s political economy, the chapter provides an insightful critique of the ideological implications of MOOCs within contemporary capitalist structures. It then turns its attention to the historical evolution of ideology, focusing on a Gramscian understanding, where ideologies are perceived not simply as belief structures but as formidable instruments of social control. This unique perspective will be a compass for potential student researchers and academics, equipping them with the methodology needed for an ideology critique complemented by ideographs. By examining neoliberalism through this lens, the chapter offers insights into how such ideologies can secure consent, a phenomenon Gramsci eloquently termed ‘common sense’. This theoretical backdrop is critical in understanding the art of exposing a website’s ideological interests beyond what is presented on its surface. Here, Gramsci’s theoretical framing of hegemony highlights how neoliberalism has become so normalised that individuals view it as being in their best interest. The chapter culminates by setting forth preconditions for MOOCs to contribute to what Gramsci identified as a ‘historic bloc’—a sweeping hegemonic force that shapes societal values, beliefs, and structures.