Another look at E. P. Thompson and British Communism, 1937–1955. (8th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McIlroy, John
• Is Part Of: Labor history. Volume 58:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 506
• Page End: 539
• Publication Date: 2017-08-08
• Subjects: E. P. Thompson -- Communist Party of Great Britain -- Soviet Union -- Stalinism -- Cold War -- William Morris -- cultural politics; Labor -- United States -- History -- Periodicals; Labor movement -- United States -- Periodicals; Labor unions -- United States -- History -- Periodicals; Travail -- États-Unis -- Histoire -- Périodiques; Mouvement ouvrier -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Syndicats -- États-Unis -- Histoire -- Périodiques; 331.0973
• DOI: 10.1080/0023656X.2017.1332568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-656X

Abstract

Abstract: Examination of E. P. Thompson's activism in the Communist Party (CPGB) has been limited. Some historians, basing themselves on his memories and interpretations of his 1955 biography of William Morris, have portrayed him as a dissenter, at best a loyal critic of CPGB policy. Others have deduced political conformity from his fourteen years membership of a declining organisation. This article reappraises the literature and reassesses the making and unmaking of a Communist intellectual. It explores Thompson's contemporary writings – rarely exposed to critical scrutiny – and employs recently released security files to reconstruct the historian's ideas and activity across the post-war decade. The article concludes that in these years Thompson remained a faithful supporter of the Soviet Union, the party line and 'high Stalinism'. Khruschev's 'Secret Speech' and the Russian invasion of Hungary did not validate pre-existing dissent. They were the pivotal factors provoking a rupture with the Stalinism Thompson had championed from 1942 to 1955.