Marxist theory has been widely framed as subordinate to political practice.

Evidence

The notion of the subservience of theory to practice, neatly summed up in this adaptation of the mediaeval adage philosophia ancilla theologiae (philosophy the handmaid of theology) has been widespread in the Marxist movement, in forms as diverse as Stalin’s formulation “theory must serve practice” (Works, Vol. VI, p. 88) and Rosa Luxemburg’s argument (in Stillstand und Fortschritt im Marxumis ) that theory only develops to the extent that the need for it is created by the practice of the movement. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 2479

Categorization

• XREF: Names the theory-practice relation Gramsci is about to contest; carries directly into debates on whether critique can precede or outrun political struggle. — connects to: Dependency theory emerged directly from the Cuban Revolution’s politics. — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 584; Croce’s philosophy tried to reabsorb Marxism as a subordinate of traditional culture. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1641
• DEFINE: Gives the key formula for the subordination of theory: philosophia ancilla theologiae repurposed as theory serving practice.