Communist Party Historians Group
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| - | [[British Marxism]] deviated sharply from French (especially [[Althusser]]ian) [[Marxism]] and, like the [[Frankfurt School]], developed an attention to [[cultural experience]] and an emphasis on [[human agency]] while growing increasingly distant from determinist views of [[materialism]]. A circle of historians inside the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] (CPGB) formed the [[Communist Party Historians Group]] in 1946. They shared a common interest in '[[history from below]]' and [[class structure]] in early [[capitalist]] society. Important members of the group included [[E.P. Thompson]], [[Eric Hobsbawm]], [[Christopher Hill (Historian)|Christopher Hill]] and [[Raphael Samuel]]. | ||
| - | While some members of the group (most notably E.P. Thompson) left the [[CPGB]] after the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956 |1956 Hungarian Revolution]], the common points of British Marxist historiography continued in their works. They placed a great emphasis on the subjective determination of history. E. P. Thompson famously engaged Althusser in ''[[The Poverty of Theory]]'', arguing that Althusser's theory overdetermined history, and left no space for historical revolt by the oppressed. | + | A subdivision of the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] (CPGB), the '''Communist Party Historians Group''' ('''CPHG''') formed a highly influential cluster of [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Marxist historiography|Marxist historians]], who contributed to "[[People's history|history from below]]" from 1946 to 1956. Famous members included such leading lights of 20th-century British history as [[John Edward Christopher Hill|Christopher Hill]], [[Eric Hobsbawm]], [[Raphael Samuel]] and [[E.P. Thompson|E. P. Thompson]], as well as non-academics like [[A. L. Morton]] and [[Brian Pearce]]. |
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| + | In keeping with their standing positions, many of the members carried out their projects from [[adult education]] institutions, rather than the academy. In 1952 several of the members founded the influential [[social history]] [[academic journal|journal]] ''[[Past & Present (journal)|Past and Present]]''. | ||
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| + | == Aims and methods == | ||
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| + | In their work we can read two definite aims: | ||
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| + | # to seek out a popular [[Political tradition|revolutionary tradition]] that could inspire contemporary activists; and yet | ||
| + | # to apply a [[Marxian economics|Marxist economic approach]] which placed an emphasis on [[Historical materialism|social conditions]] rather than supposed "[[Great man theory|Great Men]]". | ||
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| + | This dualism was represented by [[Karl Marx|Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels|Engels]]' dictum that "men make their own history, but they do not do so in conditions of their own choosing", which is regularly paraphrased in CPHG members' texts. | ||
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| + | Revisiting and reinstating popular agency in the [[narrative]] of British history required originality and determination in the research process, to draw out marginal voices from texts in which they were barely mentioned or active. The techniques influenced both [[Feminist historians (United Kingdom)|feminist historians]] and the [[Subaltern Studies Group]], writing the histories of marginalised groups. | ||
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| + | == 1956 and after == | ||
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| + | The group lost many prominent members after 1956 as the [[1956 Hungarian Revolution|Hungarian Uprising]], [[Nikita Khrushchev|Khrushchev]]'s [[On the Personality Cult and its Consequences|Secret Speech]], and several other factors precipitated something of a [[sea change (transformation)|sea change]] in international Marxist opinion. Many figures went on to become prominent in the [[New Left]], especially Samuel, Saville and Thompson. Other members, most notably [[Eric Hobsbawm]], remained in the group, which in 1956 launched a quarterly monograph series "Our History". As the CP History Group, it continued until the CPGB's dissolution at the end of 1991, and even managed to increase its membership and output of publications at a time when the CPGB itself was in terminal decline. | ||
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| + | ==Socialist History Society== | ||
| + | In early 1992 it reconstituted itself as the [[Socialist History Society]] (SHS), and made full membership available to anybody regardless of party affiliation. The SHS now publishes a twice-yearly journal ''Socialist History'' and a series of [[monographs]] called "Occasional Papers". | ||
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| + | == Notable members == | ||
| + | *[[Maurice Dobb]] | ||
| + | *[[John Edward Christopher Hill|Christopher Hill]] | ||
| + | *[[Rodney Hilton]] | ||
| + | *[[Charles Hobday]] | ||
| + | *[[Eric Hobsbawm]] | ||
| + | *[[Victor Kiernan]] | ||
| + | *[[A. L. Morton]] | ||
| + | *[[George Rudé]] | ||
| + | *[[Raphael Samuel]] | ||
| + | *[[John Saville]] | ||
| + | *[[Dorothy Thompson (historian)|Dorothy Thompson]] | ||
| + | *[[E. P. Thompson]] | ||
| + | *[[Dona Torr]] | ||
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A subdivision of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), the Communist Party Historians Group (CPHG) formed a highly influential cluster of British Marxist historians, who contributed to "history from below" from 1946 to 1956. Famous members included such leading lights of 20th-century British history as Christopher Hill, Eric Hobsbawm, Raphael Samuel and E. P. Thompson, as well as non-academics like A. L. Morton and Brian Pearce.
In keeping with their standing positions, many of the members carried out their projects from adult education institutions, rather than the academy. In 1952 several of the members founded the influential social history journal Past and Present.
Contents |
Aims and methods
In their work we can read two definite aims:
- to seek out a popular revolutionary tradition that could inspire contemporary activists; and yet
- to apply a Marxist economic approach which placed an emphasis on social conditions rather than supposed "Great Men".
This dualism was represented by Marx and Engels' dictum that "men make their own history, but they do not do so in conditions of their own choosing", which is regularly paraphrased in CPHG members' texts.
Revisiting and reinstating popular agency in the narrative of British history required originality and determination in the research process, to draw out marginal voices from texts in which they were barely mentioned or active. The techniques influenced both feminist historians and the Subaltern Studies Group, writing the histories of marginalised groups.
1956 and after
The group lost many prominent members after 1956 as the Hungarian Uprising, Khrushchev's Secret Speech, and several other factors precipitated something of a sea change in international Marxist opinion. Many figures went on to become prominent in the New Left, especially Samuel, Saville and Thompson. Other members, most notably Eric Hobsbawm, remained in the group, which in 1956 launched a quarterly monograph series "Our History". As the CP History Group, it continued until the CPGB's dissolution at the end of 1991, and even managed to increase its membership and output of publications at a time when the CPGB itself was in terminal decline.
Socialist History Society
In early 1992 it reconstituted itself as the Socialist History Society (SHS), and made full membership available to anybody regardless of party affiliation. The SHS now publishes a twice-yearly journal Socialist History and a series of monographs called "Occasional Papers".
Notable members
- Maurice Dobb
- Christopher Hill
- Rodney Hilton
- Charles Hobday
- Eric Hobsbawm
- Victor Kiernan
- A. L. Morton
- George Rudé
- Raphael Samuel
- John Saville
- Dorothy Thompson
- E. P. Thompson
- Dona Torr
