Syndicalism

Syndicalism is a major labor movement within society. It uses a method called industrial unionism to organize workers. This means people join unions based on their specific industry rather than just their individual craft. Syndicalists use direct action to achieve their goals. A common form of direct action is the strike, where workers stop working to demand changes. The ultimate goal of this movement is social ownership. This means workers would eventually gain control over the means of production and the economy.

The term syndicalism has French origins. In French, a "syndicat" is a trade union or a local group. A "syndicalist" is someone who supports these self-organizing groups. The concept of revolutionary syndicalism became clear in French socialist journals around 1903. The French General Confederation of Labor, or CGT, used this term to describe its approach. This model of unionism was later adapted by workers in many other languages.

Historians and scholars often debate how to define the movement. Some scholars, like Ralph Darlington, use the term for any revolutionary trade unionism. They believe similar actions are more important than small ideological differences. Others, like Erik Olssen, worry this definition blurs the lines between different types of socialism. Scholar Larry Peterson offers a more specific definition. He says true syndicalism requires five criteria. These include a preference for federalism over central control and opposition to political parties. It also requires seeing the general strike as a supreme weapon. Finally, it must view unions as the building blocks of a future society.

The roots of syndicalism go back to many thinkers. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon promoted mutualism, which focused on community cooperation. He wanted workers to oppose state control through peaceful means. Later, Mikhail Bakunin, a famous Russian anarchist, argued that worker organizations should use force when necessary. He advocated for the general strike and rejected electoral politics. These ideas formed the foundation for later syndicalist movements.

A turning point occurred during the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886. This was part of a struggle for an eight-hour workday. During a demonstration, police killed three striking workers. The next day, a bomb was thrown into a crowd, leading to more deaths. Four anarchists were executed for their alleged roles in these events. This tragedy changed how labor organizers viewed the revolutionary meaning of the general strike. In France, leaders like Émile Pouget used these events to help grow the labor movement.

Syndicalism spread globally through many different channels. In the United States, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) became a major force. Many people called them the "Wobblies." They used industrial unionism as a specifically American form of the movement. In Spain, the Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) became a very large organization. Other notable groups included the USI in Italy and the FORA in Argentina.

Ideas traveled through migration and media. Many IWW leaders in North America were European immigrants. In Argentina, the FORA was formed by Italian and Spanish immigrants. Sailors also helped spread ideas in port cities around the world. Publications played a huge role too. Émile Pouget wrote many pamphlets that were translated into several languages. These included English, German, and Swedish. This helped create a connected, international network of workers.

By 1922, the International Workers' Association (IWA–AIT) was formed. This was an international federation of various labor unions. At its peak, it represented millions of workers. It competed with social democratic unions for influence among the working class. Some member organizations later left to form the International Confederation of Labour (ICL–CIT) in 2018. Today, some syndicalist organizations still remain linked to the IWA–AIT.