The Second International and the Evolution of Anarchism

The Second International

The Second International was founded in Paris and exclusively incorporated socialist parties. Its core principles included:

• The extension of democracy.
• Access to power through peaceful means.
• Regulation of the labour market.
• The end of gender discrimination and other inequalities.

It established iconic symbols of the workers' movement, such as the 1st of May as International Workers' Day, in memory of those arrested and killed in Chicago during a demonstration.

The Great Socialist Schism

Internal debates triggered the breakup of the Second International, leading to the two major currents of 20th-century socialism:

• Social Democracy (Reformist): In Germany, a sector of the SPD led by Eduard Bernstein advocated for a parliamentary path to gradually achieve socialism.
• Communism (Revolutionary): Another sector, led by figures such as Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg, argued that the only path to socialism was through a proletarian revolution.

The final split was precipitated by the outbreak of World War I, centering on the conflict between national interests and class struggle.

Anarchism After the First International

From the 1880s onwards, the anarchist movement divided over the tactics required to dismantle capitalist society.

Anarcho-Communism

Influenced by thinkers like Kropotkin and Malatesta, this group opposed formal organization and favored violent action against bourgeois society. This led to a wave of terrorist attacks at the turn of the 20th century, which provoked state repression and caused the movement to lose support among many workers.

Anarcho-Syndicalism

Rejecting violent strategies, anarcho-syndicalists defended organization through workers' trade unions. They pursued a non-capitalist, classless society where property would be held collectively by workers. Key characteristics included:

• Apolitical stance: Refusal to participate in traditional politics.
• Direct Action: Utilizing the general strike as a revolutionary instrument.

These ideas were codified in the Charter of Amiens (1906), with the most prominent unions being the CGT in France and the CNT in Spain.