The term "Anarcho-Syndicalism" probably originates in Spain, where, according to Murray Bookchin, anarcho-syndicalist characteristics were present in the labour movement from the early 1870's -- decades before they appeared anywhere else. [1] "Anarcho-Syndicalism" refers to the theory and practise of revolutionary industrial unionism developed in Spain and also later France and elsewhere towards the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.

The use of such a long and syllable-intesive word to describe a radical social movement stems from the need in the countries where it first developed to distinguish itself from its reformist counterparts. "Sindicalismo" in Spanish, for example, simply means "Unionism"; the addition of the "Anarco" prefix denotes the libertarian branch of the union movement, or that which aims not only at day-to-day improvements in working conditions under capitalism, but also eventually at a fundamental improvement in the social distribution of decision-making power and access to resources -- not simply "bigger cages and longer chains" -- through social revolution.

While it might seem redundant to do so, "Anarcosindicalismo" is generally translated into English as "Anarcho-Syndicalism", and not, as one might otherwise expect, as "Anarcho-Unionism." It is true that the English word "Syndicalism" has the same distinguishing effect as the Spanish "Anarcosindicalismo", and that it can be and is used to describe essentially the same type of activity, particularly by those keen to avoid dogmatism and a sort of "ivory tower" mentality . While this is so, the prefixed version is generally used for reasons of straightforwardness and consistency within the libertarian labour movement.

1. The labour movement referred to is in fact the Spanish section of the First International, many of its leading lights heavily influenced by anarchist ideas. M. Bookchin, The Spanish Anarchists, New York; Harper Colophon, 1978, pp. 9-10.

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