The Necessity of Theory—A Critique of E.P.Thompson’s The Poverty of Theory

Edward Thompson considers his essay The Poverty of Theory a declaration of war between theology and reason.1 Althusser’s work represents the highest stage of Stalinism: ‘it is a straightforward ideological police action’ (p. 275). It is an enemy to the left which must be ‘exposed’ and ‘driven out’. The depth of Thompson’s hatred of Althusserianism can be gauged from his confession: ‘If I thought that Althusserianism was the logical terminus of Marxist thought, then I could never be a Marxist. I would rather be a Christian.’ (p. 381) Fortunately for him he is spared the spurious choice. Althusserianism is merely one of a number of dogmatic Marxisms which betray Marx’s true legacy of ‘active reason’.2