Can Trotskyism and syndicalism be combined

Submitted by socialmythicman on May 18, 2026

So I been trying to figure out where I land in communism and socialism. And I found that I agree with both Trotskyism and syndicalism. So is it possible for both of these ideologies be compatible?

J. F. Calder

17 hours 52 min ago

Submitted by J. F. Calder on May 19, 2026

How do you think it could be done? because syndicalism and parliamentarism/elections are two separate paths.
Syndicalism looks for an independent mass union movement to be ready for socioeconomic and political transformation through Industrial Unions.
Trotskyism basically looks to take control of the union movement and use it to take control of the State.

nastyned

11 hours 10 min ago

Submitted by nastyned on May 19, 2026

You can have Trotrskyists active in syndicalist unions, but they do have different conceptions of revolution and organisational ideas.

syndicalist

1 hour 58 min ago

Submitted by syndicalist on May 20, 2026

"I agree with both Trotskyism and syndicalism. So is it possible for both of these ideologies be compatible?"

I would say no. Although I am sure there are things to learn of trotskyism. And there have been some trotskyists who have evolved into libertarian socialists. See "Solidarity" who probably were the mail group to fully evolve and develop away from trotskyism to libertarian socialism and beyond. I highly recommend: https://libcom.org/article/solidarity-pamphlets and https://libcom.org/article/solidarity-journals-libcom

For a fast (yet very good) explanation of Solidarity's initial views of what libertarian socialism is, "As We See It": https://libcom.org/library/as-we-see-it-solidarity-group.

Trotsky and Cannon very early laid out their criticisms, which trotskyists still adhere to:

Leon Trotsky: "The Errors in Principle of Syndicalism"
https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1931/unions/4-errors.htm

Leon Trotsky: "Communism and Syndicalism"
https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1931/unions/3-commsyn.htm

I personally do not think the IWW is or has been anarcho-syndicalist or syndicalist, some do, and here are early 1930s American perspective on the IWW.

Jame Cannon: "American Syndicalism and Problems of Communism"
https://www.marxists.org/archive/cannon/works/1931/feb/syndic.htm