Trade Union Theory of Strikes in France before 1914.

This article focuses on the trade union theory of strikes in France before 1914. Revolutionary syndicalism in France before 1914 is original: in contrast to trade unionism in Britain and to German unionism, it wished to provide alone for all the needs of the working classes. Trade unionism is enough for everything its leaders had stressed repeatedly at the beginning of the century. They refused, in the work of the emancipation of the laboring classes, to use the services of middle class intellectuals who inspired and dominated the socialist parties. Since they took charge of the whole working class movement, it was natural that they should credit it with a wish for a fundamental transformation of society. Therefore, instead of the statement that "French Trade Unionism asserted that it was all-embracing because it was revolutionary", it would be more correct to say that it was revolutionary because it asserted that it was all embracing. It is therefore necessary to underline the capital importance of action and methods.