syndicalism

Political movement in 19th-century Europe that rejected parliamentary activity in favour of direct action, culminating in a revolutionary general strike to secure worker ownership and control of industry. After 1918 syndicalism was absorbed in communism, although it continued to have an independent existence in Spain until the late 1930s.

The idea originated under Robert Owen's influence in the 1830s, acquired its name and its more violent aspects in France from the philosopher Georges Sorel, and also reached the USA (see Industrial Workers of the World).