Goals and Means: Anarchism, Syndicalism, and Internationalism in the Origins of the Federación Anarquista Ibérica

"Essential reading for anyone interested in the wider roots and antecedents of international syndicalism and anarchism."—David Welch, University of Kent Spanish anarchism did not emerge, fully formed, on the eve of the fascist coup attempt and subsequent Civil War. In this detailed history of Spain in the decades leading up to the cataclysm, Jason Garner investigates what most other books simply assume: the conflicting forces, goals, and strategies that combined to create the country's libertarian movement. Jason Garner has taught at the University of Westminster and the University of Kent. He currently lives and teaches in Patagonia, Argentina. Essential reading for anyone interested in the wider roots and antecedents of international syndicalism and anarchism. David Welch, author of Propaganda, Power and From the First World War to WikiLeaks Goals and Means investigates the relationship between revolutionary syndicalism and anarchism in Spain from the founding of the Confederacin Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) in 1910 to the Second Republic in 1931. Garner explores Spanish anarcho-syndicalisms unique characteristics while placing its development within global events and the wider international syndicalist movement. Anarcho-syndicalism is a hybrid of revolutionary syndicalism in which the anarchist goalthe triumph of the social revolution and the implantation of libertarian socialismwould be achieved by syndicalisms tactical means. Working outside statist and collaborationist political structures did not, however, mean abandoning political strategy. The Federacin Anarquista Ibrica (FAI) was formed in 1927 and quickly sought to ensure a role for anarchism within the syndicalist union. The development of anarcho-syndicalismand the tensions it spawned within the larger socialist movementhas much to teach us today as we chart our own future. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1. Revolutionary Syndicalism before 1917 The First International and the Birth of the Anarchist Movement The First International in Spain Division, Wilderness and Violence Propaganda of the Deed 2. The Early Years of the Germination The Formation of the CNT The London International Syndicalist Congress, September 1913 Anarchist Internationalism before the First World War The El Ferrol International Congress of Peace, 1915 Working-Class Revolutionary Syndicalism and ReformistSocialism 3. Revolutionary Politics and Revolutionary Syndicalism Initial Reaction to the Bolshevik Revolution The Delegation to the Second Comintern Congress The Delegation to the Inaugural Profintern Congress Separated by an Ideological and Tactical Chasm 4. An Independent Revolutionary Syndicalist International Revolutionary Syndicalist Internationalism following the LondonCongress, 1913 The Formation of the New IWMA Reaction to the IWMA within the CNT 5. Early Conflicts between Anarchism and Syndicalism Anarchist Reaction to the Rise and Demise of the CNT, 19181922 The International Anarchist Congresses of 1921 and 1923 The Madrid National Anarchist Congress, 1923 The Growth in Anarchist Activity in the Unions in 1923 6. Ideological Conflict in the First Years of the Dictatorship The International Dispute between the Catalan CRT and the Argentine FORA Ideological Conflicts in Catalonia Anarchists against the MOA Syndicalist Shortcomings Exposed 7. Exile in International Solidarity and National Disunity Libertarian Exiles in France before November 1924 Organising in The FGALEF and the Cuadros Sindicales International Contacts 8. Anarchist Organisation and Syndicalist Overreaction The Proposed Iberian Syndicalist Confederation The Creation of the Federacin Anarquista Ibrica FAI Collaboration in the Reorganisation of the CNT The FAIs International Policy Angel Pestaa and the Professionalisation of the CNT Return to Legality The 1930 Relaunch of the CNT Conclusion Endnotes Index Goals And Means Investigates The Relationship Between Revolutionary Syndicalism And Anarchism In Spain From The Founding Of The Confederación Nacional Del Trabajo (cnt) In 1910 To The Second Republic In 1931. Garner Explores Spanish Anarcho-syndicalism's Unique Characteristics While Placing Its Development Within Global Events And The Wider International Syndicalist Movement. Anarcho-syndicalism Is A Hybrid Of Revolutionary Syndicalism In Which The Anarchist Goal - The Triumph Of The Social Revolution And The Implantation Of Libertarian Socialism - Would Be Achieved By Syndicalism's Tactical Means. Working Outside Statist And Collaborationist Political Structures Did Not, However, Mean Abandoning Political Strategy. The Federación Anarquista Ibérica (fai) Was Formed In 1927 And Quickly Sought To Ensure A Role For Anarchism Within The Syndicalist Union. The Development Of Anarcho-syndicalism - And The Tensions It Spawned Within The Larger Socialist Movement - Has Much To Teach Us Today As We Chart Our Own Future. Introduction -- Revolutionary Syndicalism Before 1917 -- The Early Years Of The Cnt: Germination -- Revolutionary Politics And Revolutionary Syndicalism -- An Independent Revolutionary Syndicalist International -- Early Conflicts Between Anarchism And Syndicalism -- Ideological Conflict In The First Years Of The Dictatorship -- Exile In France: International Solidarity And National Disunity -- Anarchist Organisation And Syndicalist Overreaction. Jason Garner. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 265-362) And Index. "Goals and Means investigates the relationship between revolutionary syndicalism and anarchism in Spain from the founding of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) in 1910 to the Second Republic in 1931. Garner explores Spanish anarcho-syndicalism's unique characteristics while placing its development within global events and the wider international syndicalist movement. Anarcho-syndicalism is a hybrid of revolutionary syndicalism in which the anarchist goal - the triumph of the social revolution and the implantation of libertarian socialism - would be achieved by syndicalism's tactical means. Working outside statist and collaborationist political structures did not, however, mean abandoning political strategy. The Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI) was formed in 1927 and quickly sought to ensure a role for anarchism within the syndicalist union. The development of anarcho-syndicalism - and the tensions it spawned within the larger socialist movement - has much to teach us today as we chart our own future." --back cover

"Essential reading for anyone interested in the wider roots and antecedents of international syndicalism and anarchism."—David Welch, University of Kent

Spanish anarchism did not emerge, fully formed, on the eve of the fascist coup attempt and subsequent Civil War. In this detailed history of Spain in the decades leading up to the cataclysm, Jason Garner investigates what most other books simply assume: the conflicting forces, goals, and strategies that combined to create the country's libertarian movement.

Jason Garner has taught at the University of Westminster and the University of Kent. He currently lives and teaches in Patagonia, Argentina. 'Essential reading for anyone interested in the wider roots and antecedents of international syndicalism and anarchism.'—David Welch, University of KentSpanish anarchism did not emerge, fully formed, on the eve of the fascist coup attempt and subsequent Civil War. In this detailed history of Spain in the decades leading up to the cataclysm, Jason Garner investigates what most other books simply assume: the conflicting forces, goals, and strategies that combined to create the country's libertarian movement.Jason Garner has taught at the University of Westminster and the University of Kent. He currently lives and teaches in Patagonia, Argentina.-- Provided by publisher Anarchy means organization. A comprehensive study of how it was achieved in twentieth-century Spain