The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism

Key themes

Industrial Syndicalism and Labor Philosophy

This is the core ideological theme, exploring the I.W.W.'s unique brand of revolutionary syndicalism. Brissenden meticulously details its advocacy for direct action, industrial unionism, and the abolition of the wage system, contrasting it with parliamentary socialism and traditional craft unionism. The theme examines the theoretical underpinnings of the I.W.W.'s belief that workers should seize control of industry through organized strikes and ultimately manage production themselves.

Class Struggle and Worker Exploitation

Brissenden highlights the profound economic disparities and harsh working conditions that fueled the I.W.W.'s emergence. This theme explores the systemic exploitation of primarily unskilled and immigrant laborers, who were often denied basic rights and fair wages. The book frames the I.W.W.'s actions as a direct response to this class conflict, aiming to empower the dispossessed against a powerful capitalist class.

Repression, Public Perception, and Historical Memory

Brissenden dedicates significant attention to the intense opposition and demonization faced by the I.W.W. This theme explores the systemic repression from employers, government entities, and the media, which often portrayed the Wobblies as un-American, violent anarchists. It also delves into how these external forces shaped the I.W.W.'s public image and its internal dynamics, and how historical memory has often distorted its true nature and objectives.

Worth discussing

How did the I.W.W.'s philosophy of industrial syndicalism differ from other socialist and labor movements of its time, and what were the implications of these differences?