Paul Q. Hirst - Marxism and Historical Writing

In this reissued collection of essays, first published in 1985, Paul Q. Hirst assesses the limits of the Marxist theory of history in its various versions. It begins with an extended critical discussion of Perry Anderson and Edward Thompson, and includes chapters on G.A Cohens attempt to re-state the Marxist theory of history in terms compatible with analytic philosophy, on R.G.Collingwoods theory of history, on Andersons work on Absolutism, on Thompsons Poverty of Theory, and on the contemporary politics of democratic socialism.

Marxism and Historical Writing

Paul Q.Hirst

First published in 1985
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd

This edition first published in 2010 by Routledge
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Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
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This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2009.

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Chapter 4 1979 Routledge & Kegan Paul

Chapter 5 1975 Routledge & Kegan Paul

All other material 1985 Paul Q.Hirst

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ISBN 0-203-85565-5 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 13: 978-0-415-57280-4 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-0-203-85565-2 (ebk)

ISBN 10: 0-415-57280-0 (hbk)

ISBN 10: 0-203-85565-5 (ebk)

Other books by the same author:

Durkheim, Bernard and Epistemology, 1975

Pre-Capitalist Modes of Production, 1975 (with Barry Hindess)

Marxs Capital and Capitalism Today (2 vols), 1977, 1978 (with Anthony Cutler, Barry Hindess and Athar Hussain)

Paul Q.Hirst

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2009.

To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledges collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.

ISBN 0-203-85565-5 Master e-book ISBN

The theory of history remains a perennial field of debate within Marxism. Not surprisingly since most Marxists have considered the centrepiece of Marxs achievement to be historical materialism, a science of history. In Pre-Capitalist Modes of Production Barry Hindess and I challenged this judgment. We argued that the theory of modes of production could not progress if it was viewed as part of a philosophy of history and we also questioned the all too easy assimilation that had taken place in Britain between Marxism and the historians practice. Our work produced an expected reaction of disbelief and rejection on the part of many Marxists, especially those who were professional historians. It also produced another set of reactions. On the one hand, a grudging acceptance by some Marxists that we were not without powerful arguments for our case. On the other hand, an enthusiastic acceptance by some Marxist philosophers and theorists who saw the need for a radical re-thinking of the role of Marxist theory if it was to serve as a guide to contemporary political practice in the advanced capitalist West. This book is an attempt to bring the debate up to date since our original contribution in 1975.

It reproduces two essays which address the work of two of the leading Marxist historians in Great Britain, Perry Anderson and E. P.Thompson. The first () is a critical appraisal of Andersons work on the absolutist state and an attempt to show how and why it fails to address the problems about the theory of modes of production we outlined in Pre-Capitalist Modes of Production, published at about the same time as Andersons own books. These essays remain relevant today and I have re-published them at the suggestion of friendly readers who have encouraged me to put them before the public in a more accessible form.

At the same time more needs to be said. In the first chapter in this volume I have attempted to bring the debate up to date. Reviewing in particular Andersons attempt to settle accounts with Thompson in Arguments within English Marxism, Andersons and Thompsons enterprises are re-considered, and their respective strengths and weaknesses re-assessed. My own general position on Marxism and historical writing is re-stated and revised. In particular, I have tried to show how Andersons own position, for all its attempt to do justice to both Thompson and Althusser, fails to address some of their most positive endeavours, and also how he has failed to address or answer the points made by myself and my co-authors. This first chapter serves as a general introduction to the volume.

G.A.Cohens book on Marx has received lavish praise as a defence of the traditional account of historical materialism. Anderson is one of the leading voices in this chorus. In the second chapter I have tried to show that Cohens defence is neither faithful to Marx nor does it succeed in its own terms.