Reassessing the Transnational Turn : Scales of Analysis in Anarchist and Syndicalist Studies

Anarchism and syndicalism can be studied as templates for processes of political and cultural globalisation. This volume, however, argues that anarchism and syndicalism cannot be fully understood with reference only to transnationalism. With implications beyond the field of anarchist studies and the history of anarchism, the book treats anarchism as one example of transnational social networking while challenging the status of transnationalism as academic orthodoxy, highlighting the gray areas between national and transnational, global and local, national social field and transnational network.

This edited volume reassesses the ongoing transnational turn in anarchist and syndicalist studies, a field where the interest in cross-border connections has generated much innovative literature in the last decade. It presents and extends up-to-date research into several dynamic historiographic fields, and especially the history of the anarchist and syndicalist movements and the notions of transnational militancy and informal political networks. Whilst restating the relevance of transnational approaches, especially in connection with the concepts of personal networks and mediators, the book underlines the importance of other scales of analysis in capturing the complexities of anarchist militancy, due to both their centrality as a theme of reflection for militants, and their role as a level of organization. Especially crucial is the national level, which is often overlooked due to the internationalism which was so central to anarchist ideology. And yet, as several chapters highlight, anarchist discourses on the nation (as opposed to the state), patriotism and even race, were more nuanced than is usually assumed. The local and individual levels are also shown to be essential in anarchist militancy.