Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory & Practice (1938)

I found this to be an interesting and worthwhile book even though I don't believe anarcho-syndicalism would have much of a chance of succeeding as an alternative to our present type of society. The goal of this doctrine is the eventual complete elimination of central government and the institution of groups of economic producers who would form cooperatives to provide the basic needs of all members of society. While this may be a worthy ideal, it seems to me to be based on a too idealistic and rational view of the capacity of humanity for mutual cooperation.

The most valuable things to me about the book were the summary of the labor movement and the intolerable working conditions which motivated it; and the author's assessment of all forms of central government as being tools of the ruling class to manipulate and exploit the masses.

While I would not endorse his solutions, I believe he has identified problems which need a counterbalance. A thought-provoking book. ( )

"Written in 1938, this is a classic introduction to its subject. Rocker was a prominent anarcho-syndicalist himself and his account of the origins of the labour movement, the fore-runners of syndicalism, and the objectives, methods and evolution of anarcho-syndicalism is therefore authoritative. He prefaces his account of anarcho-syndicalism with a description of the aims and purposes of anarchism and this edition has, as an appendix, the first chapter of Rocker's biography, London Years."