An examination of syndicalist ideas in France from the 19th century until the 1960s. It looks at two groups of people: the militants who created and led the syndicalist movement at its height and the intellectuals who in the first decade of the 20th century outlined a distinct syndicalist ideology.

Mazgaj traces the interaction between the syndicalist Left and the royalist Right in France during the period between the Dreyfuss affair and the beginnings of World War I. Some royalists turned to the Left to enlist support for replacing the Third Republic with a social" monarchy; the Left community was in such disarray that some syndicalists responded to the overtures of the Right. Mazgaj has ferreted out the intrigues taking place between the two groups." Originally published in 1979. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

A comprehensive study of the ideas and practice of the French Labour Movement between 1900 and 1914. Part one sets the syndicalist movement against its historical background, pointing to the forces which helped to shape the attitudes of the French worker, French political culture, economic developments, the influence of earlier socialist and anarchist thinkers and the failure of parliamentary democracy. The central section examines in detail the ideological development of the French Labour Movement during the syndicalist phase. As Professor Ridley points out, syndicalist ideas are interesting in their own right as part of the history of socialist thought but also because many of them are echoed today by supporters of the 'extra-parliamentary opposition'. There are obvious parallels too, between the 'direct action' of syndicalism and the tactics of present-day movements. In a final section professor Ridley discusses syndicalism in the wider political and ideological context of its time, taking into account the development of the inter-war years.

Historical account of revolutionary syndicalism of the labour movement leadership in France during the period from 1890 to 1914 and trade union and employees attitude thereto - traces the origins and ideology of syndicalism, examines the patterns of strike activity in the period, personal issues and labour relations, workers' grievances, motivational factors, etc., and concludes that no significant number of French workers wanted either violence or revolutionary change. Bibliography pp. 159 to 164, references and statistical tables.