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Althusser and Structuralism

1984; Wiley; Volume: 35; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/590235

1468-4446

Alison Assiter,

Social Sciences and Governance

SUMMARY 'Structure ', social structure' and, recently, 'structuralism ' are terms that are frequently used in sociology. Louis Althusser 's work is often mentioned as being both and Marxist. In this article I first raise, and attempt to answer, the question: 'What is structuralism?', and then I go on to argue that Althusser is not both and Marxist simultaneously. I conclude, therefore, that, at least as far as Althusser's work is concernedand his writings are often taken to be paradigmatic of Marxism - it is misleading to lump together structuralism and Marxism. The terms 'structure' and 'social structure' are widely used in sociology and have been since Spencer introduced the term 'structure' into the field in the nineteenth century. Relatively recently, under the influence of French work in linguistics, a new term 'structuralism' has appeared in the writings of practitioners of the discipline. Indeed, Ernest Gellner wrote, in 1970: 'a spectre is haunting the intellectual scene - structuralism, or better le structuralisme. ,l It may be fashionable to use the term, but its meaning is rarely explained. I should like to raise, in this paper, arsd attempt to answer, the question: 'What is this spectre, or what is structuralism?' One individual whose work is often cited, in texts on sociological theory, and elsewhere, as both and Marxist, is Louis Althusser.2 Indeed, the writings of Althusser are sometimes taken to be exemplary, indeed paradigmatic of 'structuralist' Marxism. This is despite Althusser's own refusal to apply the label 'structuralist' to his work: 'We believe that despite the terminological ambiguity, the profound tendency of our texts was not attached to the structuralist ideology.'3 I shall argue, here, that there are sometimes reasons for describing Althusser's work as structuralist. Undeniably, too, he is often dealing with Marxian themes. But, I shall claim, he is not both