The Cornerstone of CNT's Philosophy: Anarchism

The idea of assemblies is inspired by anarchist thinking. Anarchism is a political philosophy that states that society can be organized without power, coercion or violence. We do not believe that we need political specialists who are given power to decide in our name. Every person is a sovereign entity and can decide about things that affect him or her. Many groups fed up with the classical organizations based on the principles of hierarchy are adopting these ideas. Anarchy is not synonymous with chaos and violence: anarchy is an order not imposed on us from above, it is synonymous with freedom and lack of force.

We aim for a radical transformation of society, the suppression of wage labor, social revolution. We aim for libertarian communism, a social and economic system that is founded out the values of equality and freedom. To reach that aim we have to be consistent, not just any means will achieve that end. If we want a free, equal and brotherly society our organization and our action must be free, equal and brotherly.

That nonwithstanding, we also feel that each attack made by the state or the bosses must be answered. We don't turn the other cheek or resign ourselves to suffering injustice. The principle of self-defense means we will come into open confrontation with employers and institutions.

Revolutionary syndicalism, which proposes the emancipation of the workers by their own hand and the abolition of class society, combined with anarchism, with its ideas of non-hierarchic or authoritarian organization, of means and ends mutually justifying themselves, of establishing libertarian communism, make anarcho-syndicalism.