What is Syndicalism?
Syndicalism is a form of socialism that places trade unions at the center of social change. Its name comes from the French word syndicat, meaning union. Syndicalists argue that workers should not rely on political parties or parliaments. Instead, they should use direct action, such as strikes, boycotts and workplace occupations, to take control of production. In a syndicalist society, unions organized by industry and locality would run the economy, and the state as it exists would no longer be needed. Syndicalism was a major force in labor movements in several countries before the First World War.
Core beliefs
- Class conflict between workers and employers is the central fact of economic life.
- Unions are both tools for daily struggle and the basis of a future society.
- Direct action by workers is more effective than voting or lobbying.
- A general strike can bring capitalism to an end.
- Workers should organize independently of political parties.
- Industries should be run by federations of local unions.
History
Syndicalism developed at the end of the nineteenth century out of the French trade union movement, inspired in part by the ideas of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. It flourished in France between 1900 and 1914. The General Confederation of Labour adopted the Charter of Amiens in 1906, which set out the principle of union independence from parties. The philosopher Georges Sorel wrote Reflections on Violence (1908), which described the general strike as a unifying myth for workers, though union leaders did not always share his views. Syndicalist movements also grew in Spain, Italy, Britain, Ireland, the United States and Latin America. After 1917, many syndicalists joined communist parties, while others stayed independent.
Variants
Anarcho-syndicalism links syndicalism to anarchism and explicitly seeks to abolish the state. Industrial unionism, associated with the Industrial Workers of the World, founded in 1905, focuses on organizing all workers in an industry into one union. Guild socialism in Britain shared the goal of worker control but accepted a role for the state as a representative of consumers. National syndicalism, which emerged later in Italy, France and Spain, combined union structures with nationalism and is usually treated as a separate ideology.
Criticisms
Liberal and conservative critics argue that syndicalist tactics such as general strikes disrupt the economy and harm people who are not part of the dispute, and that union control of industries could create new monopolies. Marxists, especially Leninists, argued that unions focus on immediate gains and need a political party to achieve socialism. Social democrats argued that winning elections and passing labor laws would bring more lasting improvements. Some historians note that large general strikes in this period seldom achieved their wider goals.
In practice
Syndicalists led major strikes in France, Italy, Spain and Britain before the First World War, and the Industrial Workers of the World organized workers across the United States. In Spain, syndicalist and anarcho-syndicalist unions ran parts of the economy during the civil war that began in 1936. Ideas from syndicalism, such as workplace democracy and shop stewards' committees, have influenced later labor movements and debates about worker participation in management.