Simple Definitions (anarchists)

[Landsharks eat metal]

Hi. I'm completely new to anarchism, and there are a lot of things I don't really understand. Much of what is confusing me is the meanings of the different types of anarchism (e.g. anarcho-syndicalism.) My problem is that definitions of these words also often use words I do not know (such as syndicate, for the prior example.) Also, many of the definitions I've seen are written in a wall-of-text style, which can be overwhelming to someone who is trying to get a simple overview. I was wondering if there was someone here who would be willing and able to explain some of the different types of anarchism in their own words (this means don't just link me somewhere, and also, keep in mind that the only background of any political/economic system besides America's is "Anarchists/Communists/Whatever else are bad. They kill people" )
I've read the definitions stickied at the top of this forum, but it would be more helpful if someone reworded them.
Thanks!

[Jose Gracchus]

Anarcho-syndicalists grew out of union organizers who were opposed to political struggles, and especially parliamentary ones. They theorized a mass strike could paralyze the capitalist states, and the working class organized in their unions and their workplaces would federally organized society for the producer from the bottom-up. Their most famous and successful representatives was the CNT-FAI from the Spanish Revolution and Civil War. They were crushed between the Stalinists, liberal democratic nations, and Francoist fascists.

'Syndicate' is simply the French word for union. So anarcho-syndicalists are revolutionary socialist anarchists who think organizing in revolutionary unions of the working class can be a base for achieving a communist society.

Could I clarify that further?

[Landsharks eat metal]

Thank you, that's a very good explanation. How does that differ from anarcho-communism and the other tendencies I've heard about?

[Victus Mortuum]

I would advise you to read the online Anarchist FAQ as well as Lenin's 'State and Revolution' to understand the slight difference between anarchists and marxists (their positions on the 'state' during and post-revolution).

Basically, outside of discussion with a misguided subsection of Leninists:

Socialism - General promotion of democratic control of the means of production
Communism - A type of socialism advocating democratic control and distribution of the means of consumption

Anarchism - A socialist philosophy focusing on hierarchy and power
Marxism - A socialist philosophy focusing on the historical development of classes and economic relations

Syndicalism - A strategy to bring about socialism through unions
Partyism - A strategy to bring about socialism through parties

More?

[Jose Gracchus]

Thank you, that's a very good explanation. How does that differ from anarcho-communism and the other tendencies I've heard about?

The CNT (National Confederation of Workers) was an officially anarcho-syndicalist or revolutionary syndicalist union. However, the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation), which acted as a leadership, pressure group, and at times, opposition within the overall CNT. It included "anarcho-communists" as well as "anarcho-collectivists". The major difference is the former thinks that any form of direct pay (be it in kind or labor note or by currency) for work should be suppressed immediately, in favor of some communalistic and moralistic means of inducing people to work and share responsibility and the product. Anarcho-collectivists think pay and money will and ought to persist for some time. Anarcho-syndicalists are anarchists joined by a strategic (how to make the revolution) conception. Anarcho-communist and anarcho-collectivists are divisions in how one conceives of the post-revolutionary order. Both anarcho-communists and anarcho-collectivists may be anarcho-syndicalists or not.

An alternative conception is "Platformism" which has a centrally organized political and activist organization, and therefore begins to blend with more Marxist-esque conceptions of an independent revolutionary party. It is very controversial within anarchism historically and contemporarily. One of the major causes for fission of anarchists from the Marxists and other more 'statist' and 'politics' friendly socialists and communists was division on this conception of how to achieve revolution and the nature of organized political power. Anarchists tend to believe parties and state-like structures are inherently the product of minority class rule over the majority and bourgeois in nature.

[Tablo]

Socialism - General promotion of democratic control of the means of production
Communism - A type of socialism advocating democratic control and distribution of the means of consumption
Socialism - Economic system where the economy and the workplace are democratically operated.

Communism - A classless, stateless society that operates under a socialist gift-economy.

Marxist and Anarchist definitions of the term socialist tend to differ.

[Victus Mortuum]

Socialism - Economic system where the economy and the workplace are democratically operated.

Communism - A classless, stateless society that operates under a socialist gift-economy.

Marxist and Anarchist definitions of the term socialist tend to differ.

I don't see how your definitions conflict with or differ from the ones I put forward.

And in my experience, marxists define the word socialism the same as anarchists do. Some Leninists define the word socialism in a second way (as a 'transition phase' of sorts), but this is largely based on a misunderstanding of Lenin, iirc.

[Tablo]

I don't see how your definitions conflict with or differ from the ones I put forward.

And in my experience, marxists define the word socialism the same as anarchists do. Some Leninists define the word socialism in a second way (as a 'transition phase' of sorts), but this is largely based on a misunderstanding of Lenin, iirc.
I see the point you are making, but I felt your definitions were not quite clear enough.

[The Idler]

Anarcho-syndicalism is a form of anarchism. It sees labour unions as something which will cause revolutionary change. This change will give freedom and equality to the workers. Anarcho-syndicalists want to get rid of the wage system and capitalism. They believe this leads to class divisions and inequality.

The basic concepts of anarcho-syndicalism are:

1. Workers’ solidarity
2. Direct action
3. Workers' self-management

Anarcho-syndicalists believe that only direct action can bring about change. Anarcho-syndicalists do not take part in indirect action, like electing a representative to a government position.
Anarcho-syndicalism (http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism)

Anarchist communism believes in the abolition of the state, private property and capitalism in favor of common ownership of the means of production, direct democracy and a network of voluntary associations, workers' councils and/or a gift economy in which everyone will be free to satisfy their needs.
Anarcho-communism (http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-communism)

Anarchism for Kids (http://alexpeak.com/kids/anarchism.html)