ADVERTISEMENTS:
The following are the 10 principles of Syndicalism:
(1) Condemnation of Capitalism:
Like other socialism and Marx, the syndicalists also bitterly condemn capitalism. They say that through capitalism, a great economic disparity arises and the wealth of the country is concentrated in the hands of a few capitalists.
(2) Inevitability of the class struggle:
Like other Socialists and Marx the syndicalists believe that the world has been divided into two parts, i.e., the capitalists and the working class. Their interests are conflicting, one class is the exploiter and the other is the exploited. The capitalists become millionaire by constant exploitation of the workers.
Therefore, a clash between the interests of the two is inevitable and they cannot reconcile with each other. That is why the syndicalists do not demand any reforms from the capitalists, but they want to abolish capitalism after a bitter struggle.
(3) Ending the state:
The syndicalists want the abolition of the state completely; because the state has always supported the capitalists and the capitalists have not protected the interests of the labourers.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(4) Opposition to Middle class:
The syndicalists, like the communists, have criticised the middle class because the middle class generally takes sides with the capitalists. At the most they can become the reformists but not the socialists. Certain middle-class intellectuals support syndicalism. But they do this in order to become leaders and not because they want to protect the interests of the labourers.
(5) No faith in nationalism:
Marx said that the proletariats have no fatherland. He did not give any place to nationalism and patriotism in his philosophy. The syndicalists also agree with this theory of Marx.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(6) No faith in Democracy and Parliamentary Government:
Syndicalists say that instead of absolute monarchy, there has been no difference in the condition of the labourers in the establishment of democracy and parliamentary government. They are of the view that the influence of capitalism is the same as before in democracy and the condition of the workers is still causing anxiety. With the advent of democracy, socialism has not been established and the workers are being exploited continuously.
(7) Attitudes towards Army and Wars:
The syndicalists are of the view that main reason of war is the clash among the capitalists of different countries. Therefore, wars become inevitable among them. The interests of the workers are the same in all the countries. Therefore, they do not want to fight with the of other countries.
The capitalists encourage wars for their selfish motives and patriotism. Therefore, the workers of the world should not have any concern with such wars and they should oppose their own government. Marx and Lenin did this during their life-time. Therefore, the syndicalists also lay a special emphasis on it. With regard to the army, they say that it is not necessary because it is maintained for the capitalists’ wars and it is employed to suppress the labour movements.
(8) Opposition to the dictatorship of the proletariat and state socialism:
Marx laid emphasis on the dictatorship of the proletariat after the revolution, but the syndicalists have no faith in it. They feel that the dictatorship of the proletariat, first of all, becomes the dictatorship of one party and later on it becomes the dictatorship of one leader.
They also bitterly criticise state socialism because the influence of the government officials is increased on the production, and their attitude does not prove helpful to the procedures. The syndicalists want the control of labour union instead of state control on production.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(9) Future slape of the society after the revolution:
Most of the syndicalists have not expressed their views about the proposed future set-up of the society after the abolition of the state. They say that first of all it is necessary to bring about revolution. The question as to what would the social set-up can be decided after that. But certain syndicalists did express their views in this regard. They say that there will be no need for an army after the revolution. Different syndicates will have their own militia, which will be responsible for the maintenance of law and order and, in case of necessity, they will be utilised over a much wider area.
In this way, they differ from the anarchists, who do not want any type of use of force after revolution. According to syndicalists, country-wide utility services like Railways, Post and Telegraph, etc. will be the central organisations of the workers. Other services will also be controlled by different labour organisations.
(10) No confidence in the utility of elections and political parties:
The syndicalists have no faith in the utility of elections and political parties. They say that the capitalists spend lakhs of rupees in elections and they bribe the press. Thus, it is difficult for the workers to win elections against them. Even if some workers win the election, they will not be in a position to have much say in the parliament, because the capitalists will be in majority there.