The origins of revolutionary syndicalism in Italy

Syndicalism was an important chapter of Italian history in the early 1900s. Although Italian Syndicalism was linked with the equivalent movement in France (Georges Sorel), it had several distinctive features and developed through different stages. With the support of previously unknown documents, this study investigates the movement's political and cultural origins. In particular, it analyzes the relevance of the Southern Italian setting, from which most of the syndicalists came. The article, then, in addition to reconstructing their early political experiences, focuses on the syndacalists' political and economical thought and on their personal relationships (Antonio Labriola, Benedetto Croce, etc.).