social movements

1986-1996: Anarchism in Turkey

A brief history of the still-young anarchist movement in Turkey.

The anarchist movement came to the political scene of Turkey not very many years ago. The publication of Kara a monthly magazine, was the starting point of anarchism in Turkey in 1986. Before the publication of this monthly magazine, there had not been any anarchist periodical or any anarchist circle which attempted to express itself.

1970-1978: The US prisoners' movement

Howard Zinn's history of the movement of US prisoners and supporters on the outside against poor conditions and ill-treatment.

The movement refelected the general upsurge in revolutionary activity in the US at the time

1916-1932: The fight for freedom of speech on Glasgow Green

Anarchist Guy Aldred (sixth from right) at a Spanish Civil War rally on Glasgow Green, late 1930s.

The history of the successful struggle to restore freedom of speech and assembly in one of Britain's oldest parks after it was banned in 1922.

Glasgow Green lies in the centre of the City, it is the oldest of Glasgow’s parks. Its origin lies in the Common Lands of the Burgh. Since the 1100s the area of the Green has been used for all manner of purposes from peat cutting, pasturing, slaughtering cattle, executions, walking, talking and playing.

1903-1981: Anarchism in Poland

An account of anarchist ideas and practice in Poland through the 20th century.

An anarchist movement of Narodnik (Russian anti-capitalist democratic activists of the late 19th century) and anarchist ideas from Russia and Western Europe came into existence at the turn of the 20th century.

1890-1924: Anarchism in Hungary

A history of the anarchist movement, and key anarchists in Hungary up until the aftermath of the 1918 Revolution.

In reaction to the pedestrian Hungarian Social-Democratic Party, founded in 1890, which constantly appealed to the bourgeoisie, often forming alliances with its progressive elements, emerged a far more radical anarchist current. Count Ervin Batthany became friends with Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin whilst in London.

1872-1995: Anarchism in Chile

War planes bomb the presidential palace in 1973

Article by Chilean anarchists which details the history of the anarchist and workers' movements over the previous 130 years.

We begin in 1872, when the Chilean Section of the International Working Men's Association was established in Valparaiso, a major coastal city. Tragically, this was also the year of the anarchists' expulsion from the International, and the section was not destined to last for long.

1868-2000: Anarchism in Japan

A history of the once-influential anarchist movement in the Japanese Islands in the 19th and 20th centuries.

1868-1936: Anarchism in Spain

A history of the anarchist and workers movements in Spain from its origins in the late 19th century up to the start of the Civil War.

The Spanish branch of the International Workingmen's Association (with Marx, Engels and the anarchist Mikhail Bakunin amongst the founders) was numerically the most substantial section of the International, with 50,000 members. It trod the paths of Bakuninism laid down by the Italian delegate Fanelli.

1839-1846: The Anti-Renter movement

Howard Zinn's short history of the Anti-Renter movement against the patroonship system, created in the 1660s when the Dutch ruled New York.

The rich had vast land holdings and the tenants paid taxes and rents. The movement grew to 10,000 men and was finally put down by a cavalry unit of 3,000 who came up from New York City.

1816-1939: Syndicalism in South Africa

A short history of radical trade unionism, class struggle and race in Southern Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and the ideas, goals and organisational practices for which it stood, had an important influence on the early labour movement and radical press in South Africa. It also had an impact on neighbouring Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.