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The Anarchist Collectives Workers' Self-management in the Spanish Revolution 1936-1939
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192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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About the author
Sam Dolgoff
26 books11 followersDolgoff was born in the shtetl of Ostrovno in Vitebsk, Russia, moving as a child to New York City in 1905 or 1906, where he lived in the Bronx and in Manhattan's Lower East Side where he died. His father was a house painter, and Dolgoff began house painting at the age of 11, a profession he remained in his entire life.
After being expelled from the Young People's Socialist League, Sam joined the Industrial Workers of the World in the 1922 and remained an active member his entire life, playing an active role in the anarchist movement for much of the century. He was a co-founder of the Libertarian Labor Review magazine, which was later renamed Anarcho-Syndicalist Review to avoid confusion with America's Libertarian Party.
Dolgoff was a member of the Chicago Free Society Group in the 1920s, Vanguard Group member and editor of its publication Vanguard: A Journal of Libertarian Communism in the 1930s, and co-founded the Libertarian League in New York in 1954. He wrote articles for anarchist magazines as well as books as the editor of highly-acclaimed anthologies, some of which are listed below. He was active in many causes, and attended groups like New York's Libertarian Book Club regularly.
Dolgoff, and his wife Esther, served as a link to anarchism's past to young anarchists of the 1960s and 1970s living in New York. He focused upon anarchism's (specifically anarcho-syndicalism's) roots in workers' movements and served as a moderating counterbalance to the punk-era anarchists who tended towards 'monkeywrenching' and confrontations with the police. Although Dolgoff was friends with Murray Bookchin, a notable anarchist theorist of the period, he was opposed to Bookchin's theory of Social Ecology, rooted as he was in the classical anarchist traditions of Mikhail Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin.
After being expelled from the Young People's Socialist League, Sam joined the Industrial Workers of the World in the 1922 and remained an active member his entire life, playing an active role in the anarchist movement for much of the century. He was a co-founder of the Libertarian Labor Review magazine, which was later renamed Anarcho-Syndicalist Review to avoid confusion with America's Libertarian Party.
Dolgoff was a member of the Chicago Free Society Group in the 1920s, Vanguard Group member and editor of its publication Vanguard: A Journal of Libertarian Communism in the 1930s, and co-founded the Libertarian League in New York in 1954. He wrote articles for anarchist magazines as well as books as the editor of highly-acclaimed anthologies, some of which are listed below. He was active in many causes, and attended groups like New York's Libertarian Book Club regularly.
Dolgoff, and his wife Esther, served as a link to anarchism's past to young anarchists of the 1960s and 1970s living in New York. He focused upon anarchism's (specifically anarcho-syndicalism's) roots in workers' movements and served as a moderating counterbalance to the punk-era anarchists who tended towards 'monkeywrenching' and confrontations with the police. Although Dolgoff was friends with Murray Bookchin, a notable anarchist theorist of the period, he was opposed to Bookchin's theory of Social Ecology, rooted as he was in the classical anarchist traditions of Mikhail Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 4, 2013
The available literature in English on the Spanish civil war and in particular on the Spanish revolution from 1931 to 1937 is pretty limited. This book fills the gap to some extent by presenting that history from the perspective of the anarchists who led the revolution. Most histories of the period are written by either liberals or Marxists - the very groups that worked together to crush the anarchist movement, at a time when they should have been focusing their efforts on the fight against fascism.
The book includes material by Sam Dolgoff, Gaston Leval, and others who were in Spain at the time of the revolution. It is basically a post mortem analysis of what led to the defeat of the anarchist movement. The mistakes included participation in the government of the Spanish republic - though Dolgoff concedes that since the anarchists would otherwise have been entirely cut off from needed weapons, they had little choice.
Dolgoff and Leval reserve special scorn for the Spanish communist party - Stalinists to the core, who dedicated themselves to crushing both the anarchists and the Trotskyites, even at the expense of actually fighting the fascist forces. There's good reason to believe that fascism could have been defeated in Spain had it not been for these 'left' divisions.
There had been a long history of anarchist collectivism in Spain and Catalonia among the peasantry. The culture of collectivism carried over to some extent as peasants became industrial workers, and until 1935 the anarchist labor union (the CNT) was the largest in Spain. During the chaotic period leading up to the military rebellion in May 1936 anarchists had successfully expropriated or instituted worker management of a great many industrial enterprises in Andalusia and Catalonia, and had control of the major industrial cities in those areas until May 1937 when the government used a flimsy pretext to launch an all-out attack on the anarchists - this despite the fact that anarchists were the most dedicated and effective fighters against fascism.
In all, a tragic history. The successes of the workers collectives were astonishing in the face of the violent and sustained attacks from both left and right, offering some reason to believe that democratic collectivization may someday again become a realistic way of organizing society.
The book includes material by Sam Dolgoff, Gaston Leval, and others who were in Spain at the time of the revolution. It is basically a post mortem analysis of what led to the defeat of the anarchist movement. The mistakes included participation in the government of the Spanish republic - though Dolgoff concedes that since the anarchists would otherwise have been entirely cut off from needed weapons, they had little choice.
Dolgoff and Leval reserve special scorn for the Spanish communist party - Stalinists to the core, who dedicated themselves to crushing both the anarchists and the Trotskyites, even at the expense of actually fighting the fascist forces. There's good reason to believe that fascism could have been defeated in Spain had it not been for these 'left' divisions.
There had been a long history of anarchist collectivism in Spain and Catalonia among the peasantry. The culture of collectivism carried over to some extent as peasants became industrial workers, and until 1935 the anarchist labor union (the CNT) was the largest in Spain. During the chaotic period leading up to the military rebellion in May 1936 anarchists had successfully expropriated or instituted worker management of a great many industrial enterprises in Andalusia and Catalonia, and had control of the major industrial cities in those areas until May 1937 when the government used a flimsy pretext to launch an all-out attack on the anarchists - this despite the fact that anarchists were the most dedicated and effective fighters against fascism.
In all, a tragic history. The successes of the workers collectives were astonishing in the face of the violent and sustained attacks from both left and right, offering some reason to believe that democratic collectivization may someday again become a realistic way of organizing society.
March 30, 2021
An essential series of first-hand accounts of life in the anarchist collectives in 1930s Spain. The immense achievements made by these absolute heroes cannot be overstated. Read this if you want to know what a genuinely libertarian society should look like.
September 2, 2009
This is an odd but interesting volume. Sam Dolgoff edits a volume, using primary sources, to discuss a little known aspect of the Spanish Civil War. Indeed, partisans would say that the term "Civil War" is wrong, and that what is described in this volume is actually a "Revolution."
The work begins with a useful essay by Murray Bookchin on the Spanish context. He outlines the dizzying array of groups with a stake in the conflict between the Republic and General Franco's forces. The focus of this book is the anarchist collectives--and how they functioned--after the start of the Civil War/Revolution until the eventual triumph of Franco and his allies.
The first part of the book is a set of readings that Dolgoff puts together to present the background and context of the "Revolution" (anarchists describe the conflict as a "Revolution," while others use the term "Civil War"). Among subjects covered: the trend toward workers' self-management (also referred to as syndicalism), the rural collectivist tradition, and so on.
The heart of the book is a set of essays by actors of the time (as well as some quick essays by Dolgoff himself): Augustin Souchy, Diego Abad de Santillan, Gaston Leval, and Jose Peirats). Focal points include urban collectivization (e.g., the efforts by the anarchist unions to collectivize Barcelona) and rural collectives.
This volume ends with an essay by Gaston Laval written many years ago as well as a concluding essay by Dolgoff.
The work is useful, as it describes what was going on in parts of Spain that were not often reported upon by reporters or others at the time. George Orwell (if memory serves) was with POUM, the Trotskyite organization), although he wrote of the anarchists in his "Homage to Catalonia." It provides a somewhat different perspective on the events in Spain in the mid-1930s that helps fill out the picture of the desperate struggle between different groups--from fascists to Republicans to various Marxist groups to anarchists. A fascinating period of time. . . . Too sanguinary for my tastes, but still fascinating.
The work begins with a useful essay by Murray Bookchin on the Spanish context. He outlines the dizzying array of groups with a stake in the conflict between the Republic and General Franco's forces. The focus of this book is the anarchist collectives--and how they functioned--after the start of the Civil War/Revolution until the eventual triumph of Franco and his allies.
The first part of the book is a set of readings that Dolgoff puts together to present the background and context of the "Revolution" (anarchists describe the conflict as a "Revolution," while others use the term "Civil War"). Among subjects covered: the trend toward workers' self-management (also referred to as syndicalism), the rural collectivist tradition, and so on.
The heart of the book is a set of essays by actors of the time (as well as some quick essays by Dolgoff himself): Augustin Souchy, Diego Abad de Santillan, Gaston Leval, and Jose Peirats). Focal points include urban collectivization (e.g., the efforts by the anarchist unions to collectivize Barcelona) and rural collectives.
This volume ends with an essay by Gaston Laval written many years ago as well as a concluding essay by Dolgoff.
The work is useful, as it describes what was going on in parts of Spain that were not often reported upon by reporters or others at the time. George Orwell (if memory serves) was with POUM, the Trotskyite organization), although he wrote of the anarchists in his "Homage to Catalonia." It provides a somewhat different perspective on the events in Spain in the mid-1930s that helps fill out the picture of the desperate struggle between different groups--from fascists to Republicans to various Marxist groups to anarchists. A fascinating period of time. . . . Too sanguinary for my tastes, but still fascinating.
February 8, 2018
I thought this was an excellent account of the anarchist/libertarian self-management movement. It doesn't try to really convince you of anything but rather lays down the first hand accounts of how these communes traded, functioned, defended itself and what was built and grew. I found it to be highly valuable information for anyone who is looking for an example of an anarchist society from a technical observation standpoint.
July 26, 2007
Well, solid scholarship seemed to go into this, it is certainly inspiring. The author particularly had a strong flare for helping readers visualize what was going on.
August 14, 2025
Dolgoff's book is one of the few assessments of libertarian communist syndicates available. While dry reading and, as one might expect, partisan in its approach (flaws and potential flaws in the management of the collectives are ignored or glossed over), this is an extremely useful resources for anyone interested in anarchist theory.
May 29, 2025
Very interesting!
September 19, 2020
Very good introduction to Spanish revolution. It doesn't go in much detail, but explains how things worked in anarchist society. There is some historic background and testimonies of contemporaries. It mostly writes about things that work very well, there is no say of things that didn't workout. That is why it seems a bit biased, unless everything was acctually that good. But on the other hand it sands a good vibe towards socialism and libertarianism, and motivates for for further research.
February 23, 2014
Anarchy and the thinking that underpins it (Bakunin, Marx, Kropotkin) has always seemed a tad utopian, so it was really good to read again study of how it has worked and sad to think that the experiment was put paid to by Franco and undermined by Marxist opponents. The book is unashamedly partial and I find it hard to believe that everything was better, everyone was happier, every opponent was an evil/misguided fool. That said the examples given of collective thought, organisation and the benefits to be gained from throwing off the evils of alienation for an inclusivity do convince. I enjoyed this one.
October 19, 2013
A fantastic book, outlining the success of the anarchists in Spain, and also some of the limitations. It's inspirational that an libertarian socialist society was formed, which without intimidation, improved the lives of millions of people in Spain. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this radical alternative.
November 19, 2014
Such a great book. Dolgoff gathers together in one place the key accounts of the worker self-management movement in Spain during the revolution there in 1936-38. It is a tribute to Dolgoff that he saw the need for a book such as this and that even now, nearly forty years later, it hasn't yet been surpassed. A book that celebrate hope and possibility - hard to beat that!
January 24, 2014
I love this book, the primary documents- in-expendable. This man, Sam Dolgoff, a commendable human being.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews