What is the difference between voluntarist, structuralist and post-structuralist?

These labels are often used to describe certain types of theories adopted by historians, but what do they actually mean?

Voluntarist: These approaches stress the importance of individual agency. The cause of an event is the actions taken by the participants themselves. E.g. the Russian Revolution 1917 was caused by the actions of Lenin and the Bolshevik Party

 

Structuralist: These approaches stress the importance of the larger structure and environment behind the individuals. The cause of an event is the conditions of the pre-existing structure. E.g. the Russian Revolution 1917 was caused by the weakened state apparatus following the Russian army's disastrous performance in WW1, which in turn allowed the Bolsheviks to seize control.

 

Post-structuralist: These approaches stress the importance of abstract ideas and beliefs (rather than concrete structures) and how these have been used to shape history. The cause of an event is the ideology behind it. E.g. the Russian Revolution 1917 was caused by the rise of the ability of Bolshevik Communism to connect with the Russian people over the pre-existing Tsarist absolutist ideology.

JM
Answered by Jacq M. History tutor

18195 Views

See similar History A Level tutors

Related History A Level answers

All answers ▸

How successful were President Kennedy’s domestic policies?


Lenin and Stalin were equally ruthless in their use of terror - how far do you agree with this statement?


What is the significance of Margaret Thatcher's entry into the Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1990?


Why were many leading industrialists of the late 19th century known as ‘robber barons’?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning