reference

Anarcho-syndicalism, a theory and practice of working class revolution, was developed not by scholars working in libraries but by the workers themselves. The anarcho-syndicalist movement of the 20th century extended to all the industrialized countries of the world and even agricultural regions. This was not a fringe phenomenon but involved millions of workers.

Mainstream labour unions and social-democratic parties have become increasingly powerless to protect the gains of workers. In this situation, anarcho-syndicalism — the revolutionary, non-authoritarian alternative to reformism — is once again on the agenda. This critical study of anarcho-syndicalism in the last century reveals a history of struggle which has often been neglected but holds many valuable lessons for the present.

• Translator's introduction
• Preface
• Part 1: Revolutionary Syndicalism
  • Chapter 1: From the First International to Revolutionary Syndicalism
  • Chapter 2: the Rise of the Revolutionary Syndicalist Movement
  • Chapter 3: Revolutionary Syndicalism and Anarchism
  • Chapter 4: Revolutionary Syndicalism during the First World War
• Part 2: Anarcho-syndicalism
  • Chapter 5: The Revolutionary Years
  • Chapter 6: From Revolutionary Syndicalism to Anarcho-syndicalism
  • Chapter 7: The World Anarcho-Syndicalist Movement in the 1920’s and 1930’s
  • Chapter 8: Ideological-Theoretical Discussions in Anarcho-syndicalism in the 1920’s -1930’s
• Part 3: The Spanish Revolution
  • Chapter 9: The Uprising of July 19 1936
  • Chapter 10: Libertarian Communism or Antifascist Unity?
  • Chapter 11: Under the Pressure of Circumstances
  • Chapter 12: The CNT Enters the Government
  • Chapter 13: The CNT in Government - Results and Lessons
  • Chapter 14: Notwithstanding “Circumstances”
  • Chapter 15: The Spanish Revolution and World Anarcho-syndicalism
• Part 4: Decline and Possible Regeneration
  • Chapter 16: Anarcho-Syndicalism during the Second World War
  • Chapter 17: Anarcho-syndicalism After World War II
  • Chapter 18: Anarcho-syndicalism in contemporary Russia
• Bibliographic Essay
• Acronyms

Table of Contents

• 1. What’s wrong with the unions? [1]
  • Craft or industrial unionism? [2]
  • Doss house organising [3]
  • Coffin clubs [3]
  • Climbing the social ladder [3]
  • Trade unions and the state [4]
• 2. Strike action [4]
  • The lightning strike [5]
  • The boycott [6]
  • ”Work to rule” [6]
  • The social strike [6]
• 3. The social general strike [7]
  • Can it be done? [7]
  • The "June days” in France [8]
  • The balance sheet [9]
• 4. Workers’ control of industry [9]
  • Government by amateurs [10]
  • A new social principle [10]
• 5. A Spanish lesson [11]
  • Collectives everywhere [12]
  • The fertile land [12]
• 6. Revolution of construction [13]
• Aims and objects of the International Working Men’s Association [14]
• I. Introduction [14]
• II. Principles of revolutionary syndicalism [15]

First published in 1940 by Freedom Press, 27 Belsize Road, London. Revised and enlarged edition published October 1942. Reprinted Sept. 1943