Editing Anarcho-syndicalism (section)

==Theory==
[[File:Barcelonacntait (110).JPG|thumb|Offices of the [[Confederación Nacional del Trabajo|National Confederation of Labour]] (CNT) in Barcelona]]
The political theory of anarcho-syndicalism is based on the foundations of [[libertarian socialism]], as formulated by the anti-authoritarian faction of the [[International Workingmen's Association]], while its organisational forms were adopted from [[syndicalism|revolutionary syndicalism]], which was first put into practice by the French labour movement in the early 20th century.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|p=82}}

Anarcho-syndicalism is distinguished from other forms of syndicalism by its anarchist political philosophy, where other syndicalist tendencies distance themselves from anarchism or even deny any political alignment.{{Sfn|van der Walt|Schmidt|2009|p=142}} Other varieties of syndicalism include: the "neutral" revolutionary syndicalism, which separates itself from other political theories;{{Sfnm|1a1=Damier|1y=2009|1pp=31-34, 46|2a1=van der Walt|2a2=Schmidt|2y=2009|2pp=142-143}} [[Daniel De Leon]]'s [[De Leonism|conception of industrial unionism]], which infused it with a [[Marxism|Marxist]] influence;{{Sfnm|1a1=Rocker|1y=1989|1p=137|2a1=van der Walt|2a2=Schmidt|2y=2009|2p=143}} and an [[authoritarian socialism|authoritarian form]] of syndicalism developed by [[Georges Sorel]], which advocates for [[vanguardism]] and [[myth]]making to drive the masses towards a general strike.{{Sfn|Damier|2009|p=28}}

Anarcho-syndicalism also distinguishes itself from other forms of anarchism, due to its favourability towards [[industrialisation]] and organisation.{{Sfn|Damier|2009|pp=25-26}} While other forms of anarchism reject [[Centralisation#Centralisation in economy|economic centralisation]] and the [[division of labour]], considering the ideal of a [[stateless society]] to be one of [[decentralisation|decentralised]], small-scale social units, anarcho-syndicalism foresees trade unions as taking over a large-scale and centralised industrial economy.{{Sfn|Damier|2009|p=26}} Anarcho-syndicalists believe that the establishment of a syndicalist system could lead to the [[withering away of the state]] and as such to [[anarchy]] and [[communism]].{{Sfn|Damier|2009|pp=26-27}} Some support the temporary establishment of a [[collectivist anarchism|collectivist system]] of distribution "[[To each according to his contribution|to each according to their contribution]]", until a state of [[post-scarcity]] is achieved, at which point it would give way to an [[anarchist communism|anarchist communist]] system of distribution "[[From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs|from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs]]".{{Sfn|Damier|2009|pp=27-28}}

In the contemporary period, anarcho-syndicalism is divided into two main factions: the "orthodox" faction, which rejects any [[diversity of tactics]] or [[collaboration]] with statist forces, in favour of waiting for the right conditions for a [[revolutionary situation]]; and the "revisionist" faction, which is open to participation in systems of [[social welfare]] and pursues [[Gradualism|gradual reforms]] towards the [[democratization|democratisation]] of the economy.{{Sfn|Damier|2009|pp=194-197}}

===Anti-politics ===
Anarcho-syndicalism is an [[apoliticism|apolitical]] or [[anti-politics|anti-political]] ideology,{{Sfn|van der Walt|Schmidt|2009|pp=142-143}} opposed to the formation of socialist political parties and participation in parliamentary politics.{{Sfnm|1a1=Rocker|1y=1989|1pp=82-83|2a1=van der Walt|2a2=Schmidt|2y=2009|2pp=142-143}} Anarcho-syndicalists argue that socialist participation in politics, rather than moving society closer to socialism, has damaged the labour movement by substituting [[self-help]] for [[Representative democracy|representation]].{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|p=83}} They have further criticised socialist parties for abandoning [[anti-capitalism]] in favour of [[nationalism]], which they believe to have resulted in the reinforcement of capitalism and the integration of the labour movement into the [[nation state]]. To anarcho-syndicalists, political [[careerism]] corrupted socialist politicians, while electoralism transformed socialism from a [[Prefigurative politics|constructive project]] into a [[Reformism#Socialism|reformist one]].{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=83-84}} Anarcho-syndicalists are thus opposed to unions affiliating with political parties and attempt to prevent the capture of unions by party politicians.{{Sfn|van der Walt|Schmidt|2009|pp=142-143}} From this position, anarcho-syndicalists have denounced [[Bolshevism]] as a vehicle for [[authoritarianism]] and [[state capitalism]], and criticised [[social democracy|social democrats]] for bureaucratic inaction.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=84-85}}

===Trade unionism===
Anarcho-syndicalists see trade unions not only as a means by which workers can organise for immediate improvements to their living and working conditions; but also as a means of training workers for [[workers' self-management|management]], with the goal of establishing [[workers' control]] over production and the creation of a [[Socialist economics|socialist economy]].{{Sfnm|1a1=Damier|1y=2009|1pp=24-25|2a1=Rocker|2y=1989|2p=86}} Anarcho-syndicalists believe that trade unions are better suited for these tasks than socialist political parties, as workers often still require trade unions to protect their rights even under socialist governments.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=86-88}} Anarcho-syndicalists consider trade unions to be the [[vanguard]] of the labour movement; they believe workers' power resides in the economic sphere, as they are responsible for producing the [[wealth]] that society relies upon.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=88-89}} For anarcho-syndicalists, trade unions represent the [[prefigurative politics|prefiguration]] of a future socialist economy, the foundation that a new syndicalist society will be built on.{{Sfnm|1a1=Rocker|1y=1989|1p=89|2a1=van der Walt|2y=2018|2pp=250-251}} [[Popular education|Workers' education]] is therefore at the centre of anarcho-syndicalism, which aims to use trade unions to prepare workers to take over management of the industrial economy.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=89-90}}

===Federalism===
[[File:Syndicalism Outline.gif|thumb|right|Outline of the federal system used by anarcho-syndicalism]]
Anarcho-syndicalism organises itself according to the principles of [[federalism]] and [[free association of producers|free association]], in which the [[Self-ownership|self-determination of each individual]] is upheld.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|p=90}} Anarcho-syndicalists are staunchly opposed to [[centralisation|centralised]], [[hierarchy|hierarchical]] forms of organisation, which they believe stifle [[self-organisation|independent initiative]] with [[bureaucracy]].{{Sfnm|1a1=Rocker|1y=1989|1pp=90-91|2a1=van der Walt|2y=2018|2p=252}} In anarcho-syndicalist organisations, individual unions carry out their activities on a voluntary basis; for any larger-scale activity that requires [[delegation]], representatives are typically elected for [[Term limit|single terms]] and are paid the same amount as the workers they represent.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=91-92}} Anarcho-syndicalists believe that centralism weakens and inhibits workers' capacity to take independent action and make decisions, and that centralised organisations inevitably tend towards inertia and stagnation.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=92-93}} In contrast, they believe that federalist organisations provide workers with both the means to take rapid action in individual struggles and also connections that could allow them to establish workers' control of the economy and society in a [[social revolution]].{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|p=93}}

According to the anarcho-syndicalist model, federal organisations are built from the bottom-up, on both a territorial and industrial basis:{{Sfnm|1a1=Damier|1y=2009|1p=25|2a1=Rocker|2y=1989|2pp=93-94|3a1=van der Walt|3y=2018|3p=260}} first, workers join together in independent trade unions; the trade unions in a given city or district then combine into a [[cartel]], which act as centres for popular education and build [[solidarity]] between workers of different trades; the cartels then group together on a regional basis, up to the national level, providing larger-scale coordination between its member organisations.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=93-94}} Under this model, each trade union is also federatively linked with other unions of the same trade and related trades in [[industrial unionism|industrial unions]], which allow workers a greater scope of [[solidarity action]]s in struggles relevant to their economic sector.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|p=94}} Anarcho-syndicalists see this federative form of industrial organisation as the nucleus for the reorganisation of the economy and society, as it would be able to take over the management of production in every economic sector.{{Sfnm|1a1=Damier|1y=2009|1p=25|2a1=Rocker|2y=1989|2p=94}} In such a [[revolutionary situation]], cartels would take over production in their communities, determine the needs of their local population and organise the economy to meet those needs. A national federation would likewise be able to organise production throughout a given country to meet the needs of the entire populace nationwide, while the industrial unions established workers' control over the [[means of production]] and [[transport]]ation.{{Sfn|Rocker|1989|pp=94-95}}