The Politics of Solidarity: The International Working Men’s Association 1873

The First International was founded with high ideals: ‘every individual or society joining it, will recognise morality, justice and truth as the basis of their conduct toward to all men, without distinction of nationality, creed, or colour.’ By September 1873 it had split. Six regional federations supported one congress, a few local sections and a Council in New York, supported another. The congresses, both meeting in Geneva, brought together persons inspired by contrasting forms of organisation, one federalist and mainly based on workplace organisation, the other centralist, supporting national electoral parties. Reports and newspaper articles (some translated for the first time) present rival perspectives, influenced by Bakunin and Marx. These texts review issues of class, gender, authority and ethnicity within labour and progressive movements in Europe and the USA. ‘The congress of Geneva of 1873 has reset our Association on its true path, working people have had enough of chiefs and bosses, they want to take the management of their affairs into their own hands.’