Green syndicalism
Encyclopedia
Green syndicalism or eco-syndicalism has been used as a name for the philosophy of the green guild or sustainable trades movement.
and eco-anarchism methodologically, but lacks specifically anarchism
and Marxism
as ideologies
. (However, the term has also been used by those embracing both anarchism and syndicalism, such as authors Graham Purchase and Jeff Shantz
).
Its methods are a fusion of the trade union
, more robust methods from formal syndicalism
, and the direct action
and workplace democracy
movements (the most prominent proponent of green syndicalism is the IWW
). It may work closely with green movement
and fair trade
groups. However, it does not usually adopt the larger political goals of these movements. It is more likely to be an outgrowth of craft
and heritage
worker movements, e.g. to preserve wooden ship building, or traditional organic
ranching methods.
The links to eco-anarchism and that movement's Walden
-esque philosophy has led to a belief that green syndicalists are closely related to the back-to-the-land, survivalist, or hippie
movements, or to ethical traditions that resemble those movements such as Mennonite
s, e.g. the Amish
, especially for their focus on appropriate technology
. Green syndicalists are, however, often willing to adopt new technologies, and to work with other, similar groups worldwide.
Background
It is related to anarcho-syndicalismAnarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. The word syndicalism comes from the French word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος which means caretaker of an issue...
and eco-anarchism methodologically, but lacks specifically anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
as ideologies
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
. (However, the term has also been used by those embracing both anarchism and syndicalism, such as authors Graham Purchase and Jeff Shantz
Jeff Shantz (author)
Jeff Shantz is an anarchist activist, poet, and sociologist, currently teaching critical criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC....
).
Its methods are a fusion of the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, more robust methods from formal syndicalism
Syndicalism
Syndicalism is a type of economic system proposed as a replacement for capitalism and an alternative to state socialism, which uses federations of collectivised trade unions or industrial unions...
, and the direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
and workplace democracy
Workplace democracy
Workplace democracy is the application of democracy in all its forms to the workplace....
movements (the most prominent proponent of green syndicalism is the IWW
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
). It may work closely with green movement
Green Movement
The Green Movement refers to a series of actions after the 2009 Iranian presidential election, in which protesters demanded the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office...
and fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
groups. However, it does not usually adopt the larger political goals of these movements. It is more likely to be an outgrowth of craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
and heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
worker movements, e.g. to preserve wooden ship building, or traditional organic
Organic movement
The organic movement broadly refers to the organizations and individuals involved worldwide in the promotion of organic farming, which is a more sustainable mode of agriculture...
ranching methods.
The links to eco-anarchism and that movement's Walden
Walden
Walden is an American book written by noted Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau...
-esque philosophy has led to a belief that green syndicalists are closely related to the back-to-the-land, survivalist, or hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
movements, or to ethical traditions that resemble those movements such as Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s, e.g. the Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
, especially for their focus on appropriate technology
Appropriate technology
Appropriate technology is an ideological movement originally articulated as "intermediate technology" by the economist Dr...
. Green syndicalists are, however, often willing to adopt new technologies, and to work with other, similar groups worldwide.