Dilemmas of Internationalism

Part 1 The origins of Labour Internationalism: Labour and the First International 1864-1872; Labour and internationalism after the First International. Part 2 Labour and the Second International 1889-1914: the primacy of political action; the Second International and the trade union question; the mass strike debate; the Second International and the French syndicalists. Part 3 The German Free Trade Unions and the establishment of the Trade Union International 1890-1903: preparations for the International Secretariat; the creation of the International Secretariat. Part 4 The consolidation of the International Secretariat 1903-1913: membership; the Secretariat; international conferences; the organisation of international solidarity; the primacy of national organization; German leadership. Part 5 French syndicalist attempts to transform the International Secretariat 1902-1909: the CGT's conception of international activity; the general strike, antimilitarism and the eight-hour day - the CGT's attempts to change the IS's agenda; the CGT and the German General Commission 1905-1909. Part 6 The CGT after 1909 - the "Realignment" of policies: divisions within the CGT - the Marseilles congress 1908; the CGT's return to the IS - a change in strategy; 1911-1913 - waiting for change. Part 7 The CGT, the International Secretariat and the campaign against war 1911 - 1914: 1911 - a "bad year" for the CGT; the Balkan wars and the European arms race; 1914 - the approach of war. Part 8 The International Labour movement during the war: the French CGT and the "sacred union"; tthe IS/IFTU; the reconstruction of the trade union International. Part 9 Conclusion: French syndicalism and internationalism; German labour and internationalism; the clash between the French and German labour movements.