The Anarchism
Page 44
Anarchist-syndicalism
Index
1 Features
2 History
3 unionists Libertarians
4 References
5 Related readings
Features
Their ultimate goal is the conquest by workers of the means of production, to change and reorganize society according to federalist principles and direct democracy (ie, according to the principles of anarchism), managing the workers themselves all political structures and economic society, this approach is known as self-management. Thus, the goal of anarchist-syndicalism is not only defending the rights of workers within a capitalist economic framework, but pursues the change of the capitalist system by another called libertarian communism through a revolution, the main reason is syndicalists believe that capitalist democracy is an inherently disruptive scheme for the interests of the working class, preventing their emancipation and keeping fighting economic inequality.
Anarchist-syndicalism holds a connection between the long-term goals mentioned above, and the claims and demands made on a short-term in local, either within an enterprise or state level. Thus, an anarchist-syndicalist organization can strive to improve labor rights or defend without falling in defending the movement model of social organization, to achieve this, the anarchist principle that means and ends must be attached is emphasized. For this reason, anarchist-syndicalism advocates direct action consisting in the treatment of industrial disputes between employer and workers without third parties (such as judges) that would obstruct the workers involved.However, we must clarify that for various reasons are not always put into practice this principle.
Internally, the anarchist encourages unions to organize based on anarchist principles of asamblearism, federalism, mutual support and internationalism. A union organized in this way is itself an embryo of the political-economic system that aims to syndicalism. Moreover, participation is rejected in all the political and social structures that are not related to asamblearism promoting alternatives to the same horizontal. Other basic principles are anti-statism and self-management. In the latter usually put a lot of emphasis to ensure union independence from external powers that might harm they. Hence refuse to be broad state grants or private companies, keeping only by their own means.
Within the Anarchist-syndicalism, each organization adopts more or less firmly the basic principles of it, there are some that treat them with greater flexibility for various reasons. That is why there are serious differences between them supporters of anarchist-syndicalism, according to the importance given to the application of these principles. For example, in Spain the General Confederation of Labor or CGT is a federation of anarchist-syndicalist trade unions is considered and applied many of the principles of anarchist-syndicalism (federalism, asamblearism, mutual support, etc..) But receives state subsidies and participates in union elections, why certain groups believe that it can not be described as anarchist-syndicalist organization.
History
Derived from the original principles of the First International, taking the union as a means of struggle of the working class. It has played an important role in Argentina, Italy, United States, Uruguay, France, Russia, Korea and Spain, which latter place was very important in the Spanish Revolution of 1936. Currently, anarchist-syndicalism is a minority though always potentially significant nature and spread over five continents, being the organization that's what drives the AIT, an organization founded in Berlin in 1922 and aims to be the successor of the First International.
The union theory was developed in France as a revolutionary union unionism, revolving around class warfare, and based strikes, boycotts, sabotage and, where necessary, personal violence, fighting for better conditions and prepare workers for the revolutionary general strike that would eventually end with capitalism. Distrusted political parties, and saw that the emancipation of the working class should be achieved by the working class itself and its own institutions.Both Bakunin and Proudhon and Kropotkin agreed that the anarchist revolution should be spontaneous and flow 'bottom-up' , and not subject to any kind of leadership capable of evolving into a new government. Faced with the continued repression, some anarchist syndicalist strategy adopted to awaken the revolutionary spirit; Anarchosyndicalists watched the union movement at the same time as a means to organize the proletariat for revolution, and a framework around which they could build the subsequent society.
Some of the first signs of anarchist-syndicalism, although not yet called him thus were labor movements that took place during the second half of the nineteenth century in several countries adopting anarchist principles and ideas. One of the facts about it was the famous strike for the eight-hour workday of May 1, 1886 that took three days later at the Haymarket Riot and death of so-called martyrs of Chicago (1886-1887) ladder of events that led to the movement celebration of May 1 as International Workers Day. It would be later when the final step of linking directly and unequivocally, syndicalism and anarchism as a single thing they would.
In France, they can consider Émile Pouget a history of anarchist-syndicalism from the 1880s, and it was also in the following decade journalist Fernand Pelloutier, leader of the Federation of Labour Exchanges, a federation of labor groups that merged in 1902 with the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), founded in 1895 and at that time welcomed all the revolutionary life of unions. Pelloutier rejected individualist anarchism and terrorismandL'Organisation corporative et l'Anarchie (1896), raised the voluntary and free association of producers as the first and transient form of the future anarchist society. Paul Delesalle also supported this theory, and Pouget, deputy secretary of the CGT from 1901 to 1908 raised the same "embryonic" concept of anarchist-syndicalism, in the Congress of Amiens in 1906 was presented the resolution known as the Charte d'Amiens , which posed embryonic role of unions as a basis for social reconstruction, while production and distribution group. In the line of anarchism without adjectives, also posed the direct economic action against the bosses was all that mattered, and that the different political and philosophical trends of workers could be developed outside the union. Thus, the ideological interference intended to prevent socialism in unions, with no impediment to why, as workers, they could enter them. Kropotkin and Malatesta, who opposed the illegality and terrorism, applauded this idea that eventually became the preferred form of union for almost all anarchist movements.
In Spain, terrorism and individualistic actions were losing weight in favor of revolutionary syndicalism from the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The view that the general strike was the best way to start the revolution was becoming increasingly hard. In the anarchist conference held in Amsterdam in 1907 was strengthened the idea of anarchist participation in unions. In 1907 the Workers Solidarity trade union was created in Catalonia, and in 1910 the union spread throughout Spain creating the National Confederation of Labour or CNT. Although he started out as small, grew rapidly mainly due to its activity during the General Strike in Spain 1917. One of its main historical achievements, which is also one of the greatest achievements of anarchist-syndicalism was the eight-hour workday was achieved after the strike in 1919 The Canadian. A few years later the CNT joined the International Workers Association. However, the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera forced the CNT to go underground until the arrival of the Republic.
One of the great difficulties that have historically faced syndicalism has been its internal divisions. The resulting ideological synthesis between anarchism and syndicalism involves tensions between supporters more inclined towards one or another trend, which has caused divisions and causes of sinus anarcosindicales organizations. In Spain, during the period of the Second Republic there were two divisions in this regard. The first division, arises from a reaction from unionists to the predominance of the ideas defended the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation) with respect to the CNT. The first step was the drafting of a manifesto calling for the independence of the CNT of any external interference (alluding to
the FAI). This manifesto was signed by 30 members, so it was known as the "Manifesto of the 30" and who used it as a weapon in the CNT, trentists. These trentists, more inclined to defend a "pure" unionism (ie not influenced by anarchist ideas and practices), counted with little support generally within the union, so it is cleaved to form the so-called "Union Opposition "(with some influence of the Marxist party BOC). Even with all these unions opposition refused to go further, so suffered cleavage, led by Angel Pestana, the Unionist Party, which was attended by only a very small group of ex-militants CNT (compared with the figures for membership and militancy of the time), who ordered him to return to the organization after the Congress of the CNT Zaragoza (1936), in which the opposition unions and the outbreak of the social revolution is reinstated, in what some interpreted as an act redemption of the former Secretary General of the CNT in hiding from the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera.
The CNT had a pretty tense relationship with the government during the Republic, because their militants considered insufficient reforms being carried out. Convinced that the revolution was necessary and could only get through their own means, they began to carry out land occupations and continuous strikes. The events of Casas Viejas signed the definitive break between the Republican government and the CNT, although a considerable number of its members end up voting for the Popular Front in 1936 because of the repression carried out by the right. With the Spanish Civil War took place one of the greatest historical achievements of the CNT and anarchist-syndicalism in the world: the Spanish revolution, whereby syndicalists seized the means of production in Catalonia and Aragon and conducted social transformations who aspired to a real implementation of anarchy.However, clashes with the communist authorities and the subsequent victory of the national side in the war marked the virtual disappearance of anarchist-syndicalism in Spain, he could barely operate clandestinely from abroad. This put an end to the decline of syndicalism also worldwide, since Spain was one of the few countries where syndicalists and anarchist ideas had prevailed over communism was already dominant.
From 40-50 years, unionism starts to be questioned by a larger number of groups each time, the most important criticisms made by Dutch Marxist Anton Pannekoek. Gradually, these critical ideas to also extend to trade unionism and syndicalism in the 60s the first outbreaks of rupture will occur with the anarchist-syndicalist organizations and they will find in an authentic French May breakpoint with traditional organizations investing heavily in Autonomy working that soon spread to other areas of struggle over social.
At present, the anarchist-syndicalism in the Spanish State is represented by the CNT-AIT, advocated unionism based on direct action against the union sections Spanish association model based on works councils, bodies mediation between employers and workers . On the other hand, there are other organizations that are claimed as anarchist CGT (excision of the CNT-AIT) or the Solidarity Trade Union Confederation of Workers (CGT cleavage), organizations who accept the official union model, but in order to overcome it.
In the same line as in the Spanish State, the French State Confédération Nationale du is Travail (CNT-AIT), which in 1993 suffered a split by those who wanted to participate in union elections. This decision led to the abandonment of most militants away from the AIT, and step called CNT-Vignoles (CNT-f), the which, in turn, suffered in its last congress cleavage of CNT-Solidarité Ouvrière (CNT- Solidaridad Obrera).
Argentina In the region, the implementation gets Federation Obrera Regional Argentina (FORA-AIT) Career has always claimed a particular line within anarchism and its insertion in the labor market, the companies bet on resistance rather than traditional unions considering that these companies must be composed of anarchists.
In the Swedish State, the largest syndicalist organization claims is the Sveriges Arbetares Centralorganisation (SAC) in Castilian Central Organization of Workers in Sweden, which in 1956 was removed from the AIT.
Libertarians unionists
Possibly the best known theorist of anarchist-syndicalism is German Rudolf Rocker, a member of the FAUD (German section and founder of the movement AIT, until it was outlawed by the Nazis).
Federica Montseny, CNT's Catalan, was the first woman in history who was Spanish government minister. He was Minister for Health. Their participation as a member of a government is controversial in anarchists and syndicalists media.
Juan García Oliver represented the line faista (Iberian Anarchist Federation, FAI), more anarchist CNT. Buenaventura Durruti became a legend because of his militant commitment for underground and led him to become the head of the most significant column of militia during the Durruti Column Civil War, which opposed the militarization of the militias and harshly criticized the entry of anarchists in the government of the Republic.
In the United States a leading anarchist-syndicalist Sam Dolgoff was who created the magazine Anarchist-Syndicalist Review.
References
↑ Rudolf Rocker. Anarchist-syndicalism: theory and practice , p.54
↑ In the preface of Anarchist-syndicalism: theory and practice , Rudolf Rocker, Noam Chomsky says. "In the radically different conception of Rocker, people should take their lives and their work in their own hands only through their own struggle for liberation will ordinary people to understand their true nature, suppressed and distorted in designed to ensure obedience and subordination institutional structures.
↑ CGT union associations or even as CNT, considered anarchist have undertaken legal action to defend the interests of their members (example).
↑ Adams, 1995, p.162-165
↑ Outhwaite, 2003, p.13
↑ Miller and Coleman, 1991, 'anarchism', pp.10-14
↑ Trevijano Honderich and Garcia, 2001, "anarchism", pp.57-58
↑ Nettlau, 1935, "Revolutionary syndicalism in France, Fernand Pelloutier; Emile Pouget. Kropotkin, Malatesta and syndicalism (1895 - 1914). "
↑ AT Lane, Biographical dictionary of European labor leaders, Volume 2 , p.742
Related readings
Anarchist-syndicalism is a movement of organization and struggle of workers through unions autonomous political result of the synthesis of anarchism and revolutionary trade union action power. Some of the most renowned personalities theoretical and syndicalism were Rudolf Rocker, Diego Abad de Santillan, Emilio Arango, Buenaventura Durruti and Angel tab.
The union theory was developed in France as a revolutionary union unionism, revolving around class warfare, and based strikes, boycotts, sabotage and, where necessary, personal violence, fighting for better conditions and prepare workers for the revolutionary general strike that would eventually end with capitalism. Distrusted political parties, and saw that the emancipation of the working class should be achieved by the working class itself and its own institutions.
Both Bakunin and Proudhon and Kropotkin agreed that the anarchist revolution should be spontaneous and flow 'bottom-up' , and not subject to any kind of leadership capable of evolving into a new government.One of the strategies of subversion and revolutionary change of anarchism was the propaganda of the deed , which Malatesta understood as promoting local rebellions serve as a model and stimulus to the masses. In the final decades of the nineteenth century led to individual acts of terrorism, like the assassination of political leaders (Tsar Alexander II (1881), French President Marie François Sadi Carnot (1894), the Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo (1897 ), Elizabeth of Bavaria (1898), Umberto I of Italy (1900), William McKinley (1901), Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914), etc.), or Empress prominent industrialists,. unjust popular anarchist association with violence not produced any benefit to anarchism. Faced with the consequent repression, some anarchist syndicalist strategy adopted to awaken the revolutionary spirit; syndicalists viewed the labor movement as both a means to organize the proletariat for revolution, and a framework around which they could build the subsequent society.
The revolutionary syndicalist goal is the conquest of the means of production and distribution
by the workers and the abolition of the wage system and social classes, after which the company would be reorganized according to federalist principles and direct democracy, managing all political and economic structures by the same workers, known as a self-management approach. This opposition to statism explains Rudolf Rocker, one of the leading thinkers of anarchist-syndicalism in Anarchist-syndicalism (theory and practice) as follows:
Anarchist-syndicalists are convinced that neither by statute nor by decrees issued by the government can be created by a socialist economy, but under the collaboration of the brain and labor of all workers, from every branch of production; ie taking possession of the factories toset free the workers themselves, in such a way that all the separate factories and industrial areas groups are independent members of the general economic organism and systematically carry out the production and distribution of products in the interest of community based on free mutual agreements.
Rudolf Rocker, Anarchist-syndicalism (theory and practice)
The tactics used are federalism, self-management, the principle of class solidarity, the tool of the general strike, making recovery and workplaces, direct action (treatment of industrial disputes between employer and workers without third contest "representatives" that would obstruct organized labor in assembly), mutual support, anti-statism and internationalism. It is compatible with other anarchist tendencies as anarchist, mutualism and collectivism.
Anarchist-syndicalism derives from the original principles of the First International, then retaken by the International Workers Association, taking the union as the means of struggle of the working class. He played a prominent role in the French union CGT ( Confédération Générale du Travail ) before 1914.Except in Spain, the syndicalist tendencies in Western workers movements were weakened by nationalist fervor unleashed by the First World War. The success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 led many unionists to join the communist model of Lenin, and the Communist unionists rejected formed in 1922 via the IWA (International Workers Association), and its largest national section until 1939 CNT (National Confederation of Labour), that in the mid-1930s had approximately one million members.