`Author:` Rudolf Rocker `Availability:` No > [!info] > ## Summary Rudolf Rocker’s _Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory and [[Practice]]_ (1938) is a foundational text outlining the principles, historical development, and practical application of [[Anarcho-syndicalism]]. Rocker advocates for a decentralised, worker-controlled society based on the principles of direct [[Democracy]], mutual aid, and collective ownership of production. ### **Outline of the Book** **Introduction** Rocker introduces anarcho-syndicalism as a synthesis of anarchism and syndicalism, aiming to empower workers to [[Control]] their own labour and resist exploitation. He situates it within the broader context of the working-class struggle against [[Capitalism]] and authoritarianism. ##### **1. Historical Roots** • **Labour Movements and Anarchism**: Rocker traces the historical development of anarcho-syndicalism, linking it to earlier labour movements and revolutionary traditions, including the influence of thinkers like Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and [[Mikhail Bakunin]]. • **Rejection of Centralisation**: He critiques both [[Capitalism]] and state [[Socialism]] (e.g., Marxism-Leninism) for their centralising tendencies, arguing that they alienate workers and concentrate power. ##### **2. Principles of Anarcho-Syndicalism** • **Direct Action**: Rocker emphasises the importance of direct action—strikes, boycotts, and workplace takeovers—as tools for achieving social [[Change]]. • **Worker Self-Management**: The workplace and [[Economics|Economy]] should be managed democratically by workers themselves, not by state bureaucrats or corporate managers. • **Decentralisation**: Economic and political power should be devolved to local federations of worker councils, operating on principles of mutual aid and voluntary association. ##### **3. Critique of Capitalism and State Socialism** • **Capitalism**: Rocker criticises capitalism for exploiting workers and creating inequalities. • **State Socialism**: He argues that state socialism, particularly as seen in the Soviet Union, replicates many of capitalism’s [[hierarchical]] structures, resulting in a new ruling class. ##### **4. Goals of Anarcho-Syndicalism** • **A Stateless Society**: Rocker envisions a society without a state, where federations of worker councils organise production and distribution. • **Abolition of Wage Labour**: The goal is to replace wage labour with cooperative production and equitable distribution of resources. ##### **5. Implementation** • **Revolutionary Change**: Rocker discusses how anarcho-syndicalism can be implemented through grassroots organising, [[Education]], and eventual revolutionary transformation. • **Federations**: He advocates for national and international federations of workers to coordinate efforts and resist global capitalism. **Conclusion** Rocker concludes by reaffirming the necessity of anarcho-syndicalism as an alternative to both capitalism and state socialism. He portrays it as a liberatory path that aligns economic production with human [[Freedom]] and ecological sustainability. #### **Key Themes** ###### 1. **Autonomy**: The centrality of individual and collective [[Freedom]]. ###### 2. **Solidarity**: Cooperation as a counter to competition. ###### 3. **Opposition to Hierarchy**: A rejection of all forms of authoritarianism, whether capitalist or socialist. This concise and impassioned work continues to influence movements advocating for worker autonomy and direct democracy. Would you like further elaboration on any specific chapter or theme? ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`