Structuralist Marxism: Louis Althusser's Contribution

The question asks to identify the theorist associated with a structuralist version of Marxism, prominent in the 1970s.

Louis Althusser, a French Marxist philosopher, developed a significant structuralist interpretation of Marxism. He focused on the underlying structures of society and ideology rather than solely on economic determinism or human agency.

• Althusser's Key Ideas: His work emphasized concepts like ideology, the State's Ideological Apparatuses (SIAs), and interpellation, arguing that social structures, particularly ideology, shape individuals. He sought to establish Marxism as a science by analyzing its structure.
• Relevance to the 1970s: Althusser's theories were highly influential among intellectuals and activists during the 1970s, impacting literary theory, cultural studies, and political thought.

The other options are associated with different theoretical frameworks:

• J. Derrida: Known for deconstruction, a post-structuralist approach.
• J. Habermas: Associated with Critical Theory and the theory of communicative action.
• A. Giddens: Developed structuration theory, which integrates structure and agency but is distinct from Althusser's structuralist Marxism.

Therefore, Louis Althusser is the correct answer for a structuralist version of Marxism.