# Anarchism and Syndicalism explained — Essays

> Chapter companion for Essays by Errico Malatesta.

## What happens

This chapter examines the relationship between Anarchism and the Labour movement, particularly Revolutionary Syndicalism. It argues that while the Labour movement is a valuable means for educating and organizing workers toward revolution, it carries inherent dangers of degeneration into conservative, bureaucratic, and self-interested institutions. Anarchists must participate in unions to provide revolutionary impulse and criticism, but should not identify Syndicalism as an end in itself or as equivalent to Anarchism.

## Themes in this chapter

### Role of the Masses and Direct Action

The chapter emphasizes that revolution must be achieved through the conscious will and direct action of the masses, not by law or decrees from above.

### Solidarity and Mutual Aid

Solidarity among workers is presented as an ideal that must be cultivated, but the chapter also highlights the antagonism of interests that exists under capitalism.

### Critique of Parliamentary Socialism and Reformism

The chapter criticizes Socialist politicians for using syndicates as electoral machines and warns against reformist tendencies that compromise revolutionary aims.

## Character check-ins

### Anarchists

Anarchists are urged to participate in the Labour movement to provide revolutionary impulse and criticism, but to avoid identifying Syndicalism as equivalent to Anarchism.

### the masters

The masters are the employers against whom the workers struggle through direct action and strikes.

### Socialists

Parliamentarian Socialists are criticized for turning syndicates into electoral machines for individual advancement.

## Key lines

> Syndicalism, in spite of all the declarations of its most ardent supporters, contains in itself, by the very nature of its function, all the elements of degeneration which have corrupted Labour movements in the past.

Syndicalism inherently carries the same seeds of decay that have ruined earlier labor movements, regardless of its advocates' claims.

_The author warns that syndicalism is not immune to the conservative and bureaucratic tendencies that have plagued other labor organizations._

> Anarchists, then, ought to abstain from identifying themselves with the Syndicalist movement, and to consider as an aim that which is but one of the means of propaganda and of action that they can utilise.

Anarchists should not equate syndicalism with anarchism itself, but treat it as merely one tool among many for propaganda and action.

_The author advises against conflating the means (syndicalism) with the ultimate goal (anarchism)._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se/chapters/anarchism-and-syndicalism
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se/chapters