The Work of Edward Palmer Thompson in light of modern theory of History: On the 100th anniversary of his birth

This article, which marks the centenary of the birth of the esteemed British historian, publicist, and theorist Edward Palmer Thompson, who made a significant impact on the evolution of the “new social history” approach, seeks to examine his pioneering analytical contributions in the context of the ongoing theoretical, methodological developments within the field of historical science. The author focuses on the methodological guidelines, empirical discoveries and conceptual findings in Edward Thompson’s research practice, which, despite radical differences in the social, political, and intellectual situations of the mid-twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, have proven to be relevant in one way or another in the new conditions of history writing as a post-postmodern cultural historical science. The analysis is centred on the two most significant historical concepts developed by Thompson: the notion of “class consciousness” and the concept of “moral economy”, both of which are based on ideas about traditional social norms. Additionally, the study delves into the pivotal category of “experience”, which encapsulate the dialectical relationship between objective conditions and the subjective actions of historical actors. By drawing upon the critical analysis conducted by the esteemed Italian historian Simona Cerutti, which she presented in the context of discussions surrounding the current landscape of microhistory and efforts to grasp the interconnections between its proponents, one could gain valuable insights into the nuances of Thompson’s theoretical approach. The author of the paper illustrates the significance of Thompson’s dual conceptualisation of “experience”, which represents an indispensable constructive element in his approach to the challenge of “double” contextualisation inherent to the study of significant historical phenomena.