Collectives in the Spanish Revolution

by Gaston Leval

55 Members ½ (3.50)

On This Page

Description

Gaston Leval's study brings together two aspects that are generally difficult to unite - analysis and testimony. He visited the towns and villages of revolutionary Spain where people had opted to live a libertarian communist lifestyle almost without precedent in history, collectivising the land, factories, and social services. Collectives in the Spanish Revolution demonstrates clearly that the working class are perfectly capable of running farms, factories, workshops, and health and public show more services without bosses or managers dictating to them. It proves that anarchist methods of organising, with decisions made from the bottom up, can work effectively in large-scale industry involving the coordination of many thousands of workers in many hundreds of places of work across numerous cities and towns, as well as broad rural areas. Leval's history of anarchy in action also gives us an insight into the creative and constructive power of ordinary people. The Spanish working class not only kept production going throughout the war but in many cases managed to achieve increases in output. They improved working conditions and created new techniques and processes in their workplaces. They created, out of nothing, an arms industry without which the war against fascism could not have been fought. The revolution also showed that without the competition bred by capitalism, industry can be run in a much more rational manner. Finally it demonstrated how the organised working class inspired by a great ideal has the power to transform society. show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

19+ Works 85 Members

Work Relationships

Classifications

Genres
Economics, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
334.0946Society, government, & cultureEconomicsCooperatives
LCC
HX342 .P5513Social sciencesSocialism. Communism. AnarchismSocialism. Communism. Anarchism
BISAC

Statistics

Members
55
Popularity
547,353
Rating
½ (3.50)
Languages
English, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
6
ASINs
1