what about non-anarchist syndacalisms?

[militant]

Much of the history of revolutionary syndicalism is not specifically anarchist. The UGT in Spain were communist syndicalists, the IWW was not actually anarcho-syndicalist, and had many non-anarchist Marxist, socialist and just plain syndicalist elements.

this is not in any way to belittle the great history and legacies of anarcho-syndicalism in some parts of the world

but i did want to put forth that there are other leftist revolutionary syndicalisms, and i definitely subscribe to it in part.

[Felix Frost]

If you look at our website (www.anarchosyndicalism.net), you will see that we use the term "anarcho-syndicalist and revolutionary unionist" to describe what we are about. Historically, most of the organizations in this tradition have used the term "revolutionary syndicalist" rather than "anarcho-syndicalist" to describe themselves, and have been open to all revolutionary workers, not just anarchists. The IWW doesn't use the word "syndicalist" at all, but is clearly in the same tradition.

The UGT in Spain, however, were not syndicalists in the meaning this have in the English language. (It's not really correct to describe them as communist either, as they were linked to the Socialist Party, and not the communists.) In Spanish and other latin languages, the word syndicalist simply means unionist, and you have to say either revolutionary syndicalist or anarcho-syndicalist to distinguish yourself from the regular trade unionists.

[militant]

yes, but there are also trends in latin america (which tends to be my international focus due to heritage) and else where of non-anarchist revolutionary syndicalisms. again, i point to the IWW, which originated in large part out of the non-anarchist socialist party, as well as other groups.

so, is revolutionary syndicalism fully and always a belief that the revolutionary unions should be the dominating factor in the structure of a revolutionary society? or is it more simply that revolutionary unions should be the or one of the main forces of revolution?

if it is the latter, i could name a great many revolutionary syndicalist unions that have leninist, council communist, or other non-anarchist tendencies.

none of this is to detract from the achievements of anarcho-syndicalism, just to break what i see as a false ideological monopoly that many place on revolutionary syndicalism.

[Felix Frost]

I see revolutionary syndicalism as a method for fighting capitalism in the here and now, and not a plan for how to run society after the revolution. I also see council communism as being in the same tradition as revolutionary syndicalism.

Leninism is a different story though. The fundamental principle of Leninism is that the direct struggle of the working class should submit to the leadership of a centralized party of professional revolutionaries. This is exactly the opposite of revolutionary syndicalism, and it is no coincidence that Lenin used to denounce his left-communist critics for being influenced by syndicalism.

Besides, the Leninists aren't revolutionaries, but the left wing of capital...

[militant]

well, i largely agreed with you until that last line. not all leninist experiments have ended in state capitalism, just the large majority

but honestly, for me lenin had plenty to bring to the table, just as rokker, bakunin, goldman, durruti, and plenty of other anarchists did. but more to the point, there are totally non-anarchist revolutionary syndicalists that have studies lenin but never studied any anarchist, and they still fit in with the revolutionary unions of today. and there are plenty that dont take much influence from either the anarchists nor lenin, but would still fit under the label, especially if you are inclusive of groups that arent too stuck on what the future society should look like.

[militant]

one of my longtime favorite revolutionary syndicalist unions currently active is SUNTRACS, out of panama (i write about them often on my blog), and tho they dont recruit members into any leninist tradition, they are marxists who i believe consider themselves leninist.

[Rich_Mahogany]

http://en.wikipedia.org/ ... Solidarity

There was, of course, Solidarity in Poland. They were a major factor in bringing down the Soviet-run government there and promoted ethical working conditions, etc by organizing in a Union fashion.

"[Solidarity bases] its activities on Christian ethics and Catholic social teachings, works to protect workers' interests and to fulfill their material, social and cultural aspirations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/ ... als_Policy

I would also consider Sri Lanka's pharmaceuticals policy to be a kind of syndicalist movement, as it represents a nation organizing itself like a Union: they used collective bargaining against big pharmaceuticals companies to lower the prices of drugs.

[altemark]

SAC often defines itself as "revolutionary syndicalist" in it's english communications. In swedish we just say "syndikalistisk".

The independent syndicalist youth federation defines itself as anarchosyndicalist both in swedish and english.