Anarchosyndicalist

Anarchosyndicalist is a person who adheres to anarchosyndicalism, a form of anarchism that emphasizes labor unions as the principal means of achieving revolutionary social transformation. Anarchosyndicalists contend that workers should organize autonomous, self-managed unions capable of running industries and communities through direct democracy, and that the state and capitalist relations must be abolished.

Core principles include direct action, worker self-management, and the federation of autonomous unions into a larger network. They favor workplace democracy, grass-roots organizing, and solidarity across industries, while opposing centralized political authority and parliamentary reform. The general strike is often highlighted as a decisive tactic to disrupt capitalist control and demonstrate workers’ power.

History and influence: anarchosyndicalism developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe, with notable activity in France, Spain, and Italy. The Spanish CNT-FAI and the French CGT are frequently cited as influential examples. In the English-speaking world, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is commonly described as an anarcho-syndicalist-influenced movement. The approach played a prominent role in certain labor struggles and social experiments, particularly during the Spanish Civil War.

Organization and practice focus on local unions that are part of federations, emphasizing worker control over production and decision-making, mutual aid, and non-state forms of social coordination. Notable theorists include Rudolf Rocker, who articulated key principles of anarcho-syndicalist thought, and practitioners such as Buenaventura Durruti, associated with the CNT in Spain.

Critics argue that reliance on unions can face organizing challenges, co-optation, or limits in broader society, while supporters view anarchosyndicalism as a practical strategy for achieving a stateless, classless society through durable, participatory worker power.