Outline the social, economic and political changes that took place in Britain round the turn of the last century
Explore the arguments that took place within the trade union movement and the rise of ‘New Unionism’
Examine the factors in the growth of the syndicalist movement in Britain
Explain the differences of approach within the syndicalist movement of the time.
Terms and abbreviations
Fabian Society: Named after a Roman general Fabius Maximus who won his campaigns by slow attrition. The Fabians believed that socialism was best achieved by permeation, gradually reforming existing institutions and through constitutional government rather than through revolutionary upheaval.
Outline the social, economic and political conditions in late 19th France and how they contributed to the growth of anarcho- syndicalism
Look at the extent to which trade unionism in France was influenced by anarchism
Outline the rise of the Bourses du Travail and the formation of the Federation des Bourses du Travail (FBT) and examine the practice, theory and organisational structure of the early French unions
Give a brief history of the development, and politics of the CGT and examine the reasons for the changes in outlook
Look at the idea of ‘political neutrality’ and the problems it raised.
Offer an interpretation of working-class radicalism 1750-1840 from an anarcho-syndicalist perspective
Introduce, through case studies, the history of organisation and direct action in working-class movements
Look at the social, political and economic context of the formation of early general unions and wage campaigns
Suggest some of the reasons why mainstream historical accounts have failed to acknowledge working-class revolutionary aspirations
Terms and abbreviations
Diggers: A communistic movement that flourished during the English Revolution and Civil War. They advocated the abolition of private ownership of land and believed that political revolution must be based on social revolution.
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