A History Of The French Anarchist Movement, 1917 To 1945

“An impressive work, attentive to detail, abundantly well-documented and clearly addressing some key dilemmas of anarchist organizations.”—Anarchist Studies“Berry has done an amazing job of poring through the speeches, the newspapers, the reports of meetings of all the various strands of the anarchist movement to develop a coherent story of changing anarchist ideology in the 1920s and 1930s.”—H-France Review“We should applaud a study which has no equivalent in French and which does not fear bringing to light the hesitations and the U-turns, but also the lucidity and the courage of many militants.”—Réfractions“Highly recommended.”—ChoiceDavid Berry’s study is the first English-language evaluation of the development of the French anarchist movement between the great wars. Using an impressive array of archival sources and personal interviews, his original research explores the debates and growing pains of a large, working-class movement facing great obstacles. Focusing on the organized wings of the movement—the anarcho-communist and syndicalist groups—it offers a ringside seat to the legacy of the First International, the upheaval of the Russian Revolution and subsequent Bolshevik treachery, as well as the fight against fascism. Includes an introduction by archivist and historian Barry Pateman.David Berry teaches French and politics at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He is the reviews editor of Anarchist Studies and on the editorial committee of the Journal of Contemporary European Studies. He is a member of the Centre International de Recherches sur l’Anarchisme and the Association for the Study of Modern & Contemporary France. An impressive work, attentive to detail, abundantly well-documented and clearly addressing some key dilemmas of anarchist organizations. Anarchist Studies Berry has done an amazing job of poring through the speeches, the newspapers, the reports of meetings of all the various strands of the anarchist movement to develop a coherent story of changing anarchist ideology in the 1920s and 1930s. H-France Review We should applaud a study which has no equivalent in French and which does not fear bringing to light the hesitations and the U-turns, but also the lucidity and the courage of many militants. Rfractions Highly recommended. Choice David Berrys study is the first English-language evaluation of the development of the French anarchist movement between the great wars. Using an impressive array of archival sources and personal interviews, his original research explores the debates and growing pains of a large, working-class movement facing great obstacles. Focusing on the organized wings of the movementthe anarcho-communist and syndicalist groupsit offers a ringside seat to the legacy of the First International, the upheaval of the Russian Revolution and subsequent Bolshevik treachery, as well as the fight against fascism. Includes an introduction by archivist and historian Barry Pateman. David Berry teaches French and politics at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He is the reviews editor of Anarchist Studies and on the editorial committee of the Journal of Contemporary European Studies . He is a member of the Centre International de Recherches sur lAnarchisme and the Association for the Study of Modern & Contemporary France. The first full-length English-language history of the French anarchist movement between the wars, this study analyzes the anarchists' responses to the Russian and Spanish revolutions and to the creation of an international communist movement. It details the dilemmas facing anarchism at a crucial moment in the movement's history, a time characterized by serious questioning of traditional anarchist theory and practice. On the basis of original research using the anarchist movement's press and other publications, as well as archival sources, Barry concludes that the French anarchist movement was not as isolated as has been previously suggested and that it was in fact probably stronger in the 1930s than it had been before or since. During this key era, leading militants within the movement sought to clarify anarchist theory regarding the nature of 20th-century revolutions, to challenge the rejection of organization, and to integrate anarchism more fully into the broader socialist and trade union movements. The movement was capable of organizing large and efficient campaigns and its analyses of developments on the left and in the trade union movement were often more prescient than those of the socialists and communists. Barry takes seriously the anarchists' attempts to come to terms with the challenges of revolution and to respond positively to them in a distinctly libertarian socialist way. Ultimately, they were only partially successful in such efforts, and this accounts in large part for their historic failure as a movement.

Tables Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction The Context: Anarchism in France from the 1840s to 1917 Part I: The Aftermath of War and the Challenge of Bolshevism, 1917–1924 The New Dawn in the East Sovietism as Council Anarchism The Mainstream: From Revisionism to Reaffirmation of Anarchism On the Margins: The Temps nouveaux Group and the Individualists The Anarchists and the Revolutionary Syndicalist Movement The Crisis of Anarchism, 1924–1934 Part II: Anti-fascism, the Spanish Revolution and War, 1934–1945 Popular Front or Revolutionary Front? Anarchist Anti-fascism An Anarchist Front for Spain: The Anarcho-Syndicalist Committee The Anarchist Union and Anti-fascist Solidarity Schism in the Anarchist Movement: The CGTSR-FAF Volunteers in Spain, 1936–1939 Anti-militarism, Resistance and Collaboration Conclusion: Mobilization, Constituency and Ideology Selected Bibliography: Anarchist Movement Publications and Other Primary Sources Name Index David Berry’s study is the first English-language evaluation of the development and lessons of the French anarchist movement between the wars. Using an impressive array of archival sources and personal interviews, Berry’s original research explores the debates and growing pains of a massive, working-class, revolutionary movement facing great obstacles and uncertainty. Focusing on the organized wings of the movement—the anarcho-communist and syndicalist groups—it offers a ringside seat to the legacy of the First International, the upheaval of the Russian Revolution and subsequent Bolshevik treachery, and the fight against fascism. Includes an introduction from archivist and historian Barry Pateman. (Source: [AK Press](https://www.akpress.org/historyofthefrenchanarchistmovementakpress.html)) Analyzing the French anarchists' responses to the Russian and Spanish revolutions, and the creation of an international communist movement between the wars, this book details the dilemmas facing anarchism at this moment David Berry. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [305]-314) And Index.