In August 1907, Amsterdam hosted an international
anarchist congress with delegates from 14 different countries. Over the space of
a week, it dealt with a series of questions, such as anti-militarism, anarchism
and organization, anarchism and the workers’ movement, syndicalism and the
general strike, etc., and also the foundation of a new anarchist international.
These were, of course, the years immediately
following anarchism’s so-called “terrorist phase”, when anarchists realized that
they had to go back to their roots among the working people, where anarchism was
born in the days of Bakunin’s First International. Of all the matters discussed
in Amsterdam, the most important for the future development of the international
workers’ movement were undoubtedly the relationship between anarchism and the
new syndicalist movement and between the specific anarchist organization and the
mass labour organizations. How should they interact with each other? Should
anarchists participate in the workers’ struggles as members of a political
organization?
A century later, the various positions of
anarchist militants and organizations have lost none of their value or polemic
charge and serve as an excellent point of reference for all those today who are
facing similar situations and asking the same questions. It is historical
testimony of an indisputable value. The debates of the congress are enriched by
Maurizio Antonioli’s introduction, which serves to place the congress is the
correct historical context, highlighting the repercussions it would have on the
social struggles at the time. The appendix on the 1905 Russian Revolution is
also a mine of information and includes one of the most complete accounts
available of the events in Russia.
Maurizio Antonioli is a full Professor of
Contemporary History in the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of
Milan. He has published numerous studies on the Italian labour movement (in
particular on the metalworkers federation and on the Milanese and Lombard
camere del lavoro), revolutionary syndicalism and anarchism, including:
Armando Borghi e l'Unione sindacale italiana (1990), Pietro Gori, il
cavaliere errante dell'anarchia (1995), Il sol dell'avvenire.
L'anarchismo in Italia dalle origini alla Prima guerra mondiale (1999). He
was also one of the editors of the Dizionario biografico degli anarchici
italiani (2003-2004).
Nestor McNab is a teacher and translator
living in Rome, Italy. He has edited
La
Piattaforma Organizzativa dei Comunisti Anarchici - origine, dibattito e
significato (2007) and has also translated pamphlets such as
Anarchist
Communists: A Question of Class (2005) and other material on behalf of the
FdCA, of which he is a member.
The International Anarchist Congress of
Amsterdam (1907)
Edited by Maurizio Antonioli - English
edition & translation by Nestor McNab
2008 - Black Cat Press,
Edmonton, Canada.
$22.00
ISBN
978-0-9737827-3-8
280
pag.
INDEX OF CONTENTS:
Preface to the English edition
Introduction: Anarchism and/or Syndicalism,
by Maurizio Antonioli
Editorial Note
The International Anarchist Congress
-
The Preliminaries – 24 and 25
August
-
First session – Monday 26 August
– Morning session
Drawing up the agenda. Proposal to reconvene the session on
anti-militarism at the Anti-Militarist Congress.
-
Second session – Monday 26 August
– Afternoon session
Reports on the
state of the anarchist movement: Belgium, Bohemia, Holland, Romandy, USA,
Holland (II), Vienna (Austria).
-
Third session – Monday 26 August
– Evening session
Reports on the state of the anarchist movement:
Germany, London's Jews, Russia, Serbia, Italy, England.
-
Fourth session – Tuesday 27
August – Morning session
Anarchism and Organization. Voting.
-
Fifth session – Tuesday 27 August
– Afternoon session
Anarchism and Organization.
-
Sixth session – Tuesday 27 August
– Evening session
Anarchism and
Organization.
-
Seventh session – Wednesday 28
August – Morning session
Anarchism and Organization. Motions on
Organization.
-
Eighth session – Wednesday 28
August – Afternoon session
The Anarchist International. Motion to
found the Anarchist International.
-
Ninth session – Wednesday 28
August – Evening session
Anarchism and Syndicalism.
-
Tenth session – Thursday 29
August – Morning session
The Anarchist Congress and the press. Changes
to the Agenda. The Russian Revolution.
-
Eleventh session – Thursday 29
August – Afternoon session
Motion on the Russian Revolution.
Syndicalism and the General Strike.
-
Twelfth session – Thursday 29
August – Evening session
Syndicalism and the General Strike.
-
Thirteenth session – Friday 30
August – Morning session
Anarchist and syndicalist movements in
Argentina. Motions on Syndicalism and the General Strike. Declaration on
Individual Rebellion. Anarchist Congress vote for Motion on Anti-Militarism.
-
Fourteenth session – Friday 30
August – Afternoon session
Anarchism and Anti-Militarism.
Anti-Militarist Congress vote on Anarchist Motion on Anti-Militarism.
-
Fifteenth session – Friday 30
August – Evening session
Alcoholism and Anarchism. Productive
Associations and Anarchism.
-
Sixteenth session – Saturday 31
August – Morning session
Resolution of support for imprisoned French
anti-militarists. Election of the Bureau of the Anarchist International.
-
Seventeenth session – Saturday 31
August – Afternoon session
The Integral Education of Children. Motion
on Alcoholism and Anarchism (not voted on). Resolution on Productive
Associations (not voted on). Motion on Esperanto (not voted on). Motion to study
the problem of an International Language. Closing address. Singing of the
Internationale.
-
Two Syndicalist Meetings
Appendix: The Russian Revolution
-
The Activity of Anarchists in
Russia, by Orlovskiy and Rogdaev
-
On the Anarchist Movement in
Russia, by N. Rogdaev
-
The Preachers of Individual
Anarchism in Russia, by Vladimir Zabrezhnev
-
The Russian Revolution, by
D.A. Bullard
Index
You can order this book from
AK Press or directly from
Black Cat Press
by mailing
orders@blackcatpress.ca
or writing to Black Cat Press, 4508 118 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5W 1A9
Canada.
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Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Please note that this book is the complete work and should not be confused with the much shorter version of this book which was published as a pamphlet by the FdCA in 2007 to coincide with the centenary of the Congress. The abridged version is available on Anarkismo.net:
I read it and will re-read it soon. In fact, it's a reference for anyone who wishes to have a well informed perspective on the anarchist movement. I consider even that the fundamental positions on many topics in this historical congress are actual in many aspects. Any anarchist can retrace the «genealogy» of his/her positions to this or that trend in the 1907 congress.
But another aspect is the seriousness and the dialoguing capacity the participants showed.
Is that $22 canadian dollars? It says its $29 american dollars on AK which is a lot!. The book isn't listed on the Black Cat website. Also, surely it should be sold via amazon as well.
Well, it's not listed on the Black Cat site (yet) but I promise they do have it and will sell you a copy. And yes, it's 22 dollars from them (US or Can.)
Comrades,
This is a good book, even if it's pricey. The price issue will always be a problem when there a smallish printings and high publication costs.
Briefly, I think this book has alot of historical value. it gives a taste of the movement in 1907 and opens the door on the period immediately following the 1905 Russian Revolution. The transcripts also raise a lot of questions, some still being discussed today. History is both made in the moment and viewed from the hindsight of time gone by. Towards this view, this volume goes a long way.
While my own personal views may be somewhat different from the editor, this volume significantly adds to the history of anarchism, particularly provising this text the english language for the first time. I would clearly say that this book and "Black Flame" are helpful in trying to understand some of the long buried nuances, positions and movement personalities.
If you can purchase the book, you're not only purchasing a very interesting volume, you're also supporting an small anarchist publisher (Black Cat Press).
People in Europe can now order this book from AK Press in Britain. For more information, see:
People in Europe can now order this book from AK Press in Britain. For more information, see:
Really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us.Great site and a great topic as well i really get amazed to read this. Its really good.