Revolutionary Syndicalism in France
The Direct Action of its Time

A comprehensive study of the ideas and practice of the French Labour Movement between 1900 and 1914.

F. F. Ridley (Author)

9780521089067, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 October 2008

288 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.43 kg

A comprehensive study of the ideas and practice of the French Labour Movement between 1900 and 1914. Part one sets the syndicalist movement against its historical background, pointing to the forces which helped to shape the attitudes of the French worker, French political culture, economic developments, the influence of earlier socialist and anarchist thinkers and the failure of parliamentary democracy. The central section examines in detail the ideological development of the French Labour Movement during the syndicalist phase. As Professor Ridley points out, syndicalist ideas are interesting in their own right as part of the history of socialist thought but also because many of them are echoed today by supporters of the 'extra-parliamentary opposition'. There are obvious parallels too, between the 'direct action' of syndicalism and the tactics of present-day movements. In a final section professor Ridley discusses syndicalism in the wider political and ideological context of its time, taking into account the development of the inter-war years.

Part I. Historical Background: 1. National character and revolutionary tradition
2. From craft to industry
3. The repressive state
4. Proudhon and mutual aid
5. Blanqui and the barricades
6. Bakunin and anarchism
7. The socialist tower of babel
8. The betrayal of the politicians
9. The growth of an organised movement
10. Strength and organisation of the C.G.T
Part II. Principles and Practice of the C.G.T.: 11. Reform and revolution: the twofold purpose
12. Political neutrality and the politics of syndicalism
13. The autonomy of labour and direct action
14. The theory of strike
15. The strike in practice
16. The tactics of the strike
17. Subsidiary forms of direct action
18. Labour as a political pressure group
19. Antimilitarism and antipatriotism
20. Genealogy of the general strike
21. The changing picture of the general strike
22. The general strike as a myth
23. Organised labour and the syndicalist utopia
24. A theory of syndicalism
25. Conflicting voices in the C.G.T.
26. Leaders and followers, theory and practice
Part III. Ideological Context: 27. The revolt against reason
28. Nietzsche and the transvaluation of all values
29. Bergson and creative evolution
30. James and the pragmatic approach
31. The revolt against democracy
32. The discredit of French democracy
33. Nationalism, monarchism and the right
34. Fascism: the alternative path
35. Sorel: a moralist in search of action
36. The philosopher and the labour market
37. The militants and the activist temper
38. Syndicalism as a philosophy of action
39. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: History [HB]