Repressive state apparatuses refer to institutions and mechanisms used by a government to maintain control and suppress dissent. These include the military, police, and judicial systems, which enforce laws and order through coercive means. Their primary function is to protect the state's interests and ensure compliance among the population. These apparatuses operate alongside ideological state apparatuses, which promote certain beliefs and values. While repressive state apparatuses use force, ideological ones, such as education and media, shape public perception and ideology. Together, they help maintain the power dynamics within a society, as described by theorists like Louis Althusser.