What is the Difference Between Anarcho Syndicalism and Anarcho Communism

The main difference between anarcho syndicalism and anarcho communism is that anarcho-syndicalism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the labour movement, while anarcho-communism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the abolition of the state, capitalism and private property.

Both anarcho-syndicalism and anarcho-communism advocate the abolition of the state and capitalism, and they prefer a system of direct democracy. Although these two political ideologies are somewhat similar, they are not the same. Anarcho-communism is an anarchist vision for the re-arrangement of society, while anrcho-syndicalism is an anarchist strategy to create such a society.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Anarcho Syndicalism 
     – Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Anarcho Communism
     – Definition, Characteristics 
3. What are the Similarities Between Anarcho Syndicalism and Anarcho Communism
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Anarcho Syndicalism vs Anarcho Communism
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Anarcho Syndicalism, Anarcho Communism, Capitalism, Direct Democracy

What is Anarcho Syndicalism

Anarcho-syndicalism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the labour movement. As its name suggests, it’s a combination of syndicalism, which refers to a worker’s movement that aims to unite workers to fight for their interests, and anarchism, and which is an anti-authoritarian political theory that declares all forms of governmental authority should be abolished and advocates a society built on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups. Moreover, according to anarcho-syndicalism, labour movement or labour unions have the potential to make a revolutionary social change.

Furthermore, anarcho-syndicalists seek to abolish the wage system and private ownership of the means of production. In addition to that, they see both the state and capitalism as oppressive and exploitative. According to anarcho-syndicalism, both these can be only removed by forcible overthrow. The workers can also destroy the state by starting strikes and engaging in mass demonstrations and violent acts.

Anarcho-syndicalists further believe that people with similar occupations naturally join together in groups. The decentralised society they propose is based on trade unions or syndicate organizations where groups of workers in similar occupations form self-governing federated associations. Moreover, these self-governing federated associations will collectively own the means of production, and engage in the exchange of goods and services among each other.

What is Anarcho Communism

Anarcho-communism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the abolition of the state, capitalism and private property in favour of common ownership of means of production. Communist anarchism and libertarian communism are synonyms for anarcho-communism. Moreover, Peter Kropotkin, Carlo Cafiero and Errico Malatesta are important figures in anarcho-communism.

Furthermore, anarcho-communism highlights the importance of egalitarianism and seeks to abolish social hierarchy and class distinctions, which are a result of unequal wealth distribution. It also seeks to abolish private property and money. Once these are abolished, there will be collective production and distribution of wealth through voluntary associations. All individuals and groups will be free to contribute to the production and satisfy their needs according to their own choice. Moreover, the new system of production and distribution will be managed by people themselves. More importantly, capitalism will be replaced by a grass-roots form of direct democracy.

Similarities Between Anarcho Syndicalism and Anarcho Communism

• Both anarcho-syndicalism and anarcho-communism advocate the abolition of the state, capitalism and private ownership of means of production.
• They also advocate egalitarianism, direct democracy and common ownership of means of production.

Difference Between Anarcho Syndicalism and Anarcho Communism

Definition

Anarcho-syndicalism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the labour movement while anarcho-communism is a form of anarchism that focuses on the abolition of the state, capitalism and private property in favour of common ownership of means of production.

Type

Moreover, anarcho-communism is an anarchist vision for the re-arrangement of society, while anarcho-syndicalism is an anarchist strategy to create such a society.

Conclusion

Both anarcho-syndicalism and anarcho-communism advocate the abolition of the state and capitalism, and they prefer a system of direct democracy. The main difference between anarcho syndicalism and anarcho communism is that former is a form of anarchism that focuses on the labour movement while latter is a form of anarchism that focuses on the abolition of the state, capitalism, and private property.

Reference:

1. Hall, Duncan. “Anarcho-Syndicalism: Politics.” tutor2u, 4 Feb. 2020, Available here.
2. “Anarcho-Syndicalism.” New World Encyclopedia, Available here.
3. Roux, Jacques. “Anarchist Communism – an Introduction.” Libcom.org, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Black and Red Star of Anarcho-Syndicalism” By A Syn (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Anarchist communism” By Mikko Kortelainen KordeX – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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