The Workers' Way to Freedom and Other Council Communist Writings (1935-1954)

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Mimi

A collected set of council communist writings by Anton Pannekoek, edited and introduced by Robyn K. Winters, spanning 1935 to 1954. The volume assembles major arguments on capitalism, class power, trade unionism, social democracy, the Russian Revolution, the communist party, fascism, and the role of intellectuals. It also includes later essays on party and working class, state capitalism and dictatorship, Marxian philosophy, organization, workers’ councils, parliamentarism, and workers leading themselves, plus appendices and a detailed index.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages324

Reading Time8 h 19 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgments

Editor's Note

Editor's Introduction

PART I: The Workers' Way to Freedom (c. 1935)

Chapter 1 Capitalism

Chapter 2 The Power of the Classes

Chapter 3 Trade Unionism

Chapter 4 The Political Fight and Social Democracy

Chapter 5 The Russian Revolution

Chapter 6 The Communist Party

Chapter 7 Fascism

Chapter 8 The Intellectual Class

Chapter 9 The Workers' Revolution

Chapter 10 The Workers' Councils

PART II: Other Council Communist Writings (1936-54)

Chapter 11 The Party and the Working Class

Chapter 12 State Capitalism and Dictatorship

Chapter 13 Society and Mind in Marxian Philosophy

Chapter 14 General Remarks on the Question of Organization

Chapter 15 Marx and Utopia - Party and Class

Chapter 16 The Failure of the Working Class

Chapter 17 Public Ownership and Common Ownership

Chapter 18 Marx and Bakunin

Chapter 19 Some Remarks on Parliamentarism

Chapter 20 On Workers' Councils

Chapter 21 The Need for the Workers to Lead Themselves

Appendix

Appendix A Anton Pannekoek by Paul Mattick

Appendix B Article Versions of Manuscript Chapters

Index

About the Author and Editor

# The Workers'Way to Freedom&Other Council Communist Writings(1935-1954) Anton PannekoekEdited and Introduced by Robyn K.Winters # PRAISE FOR ANTON PANNEKOEK “The most brilliant theoretician of libertarian communism.”-Mike Davis,author of City of Quartz “Good,solid,working-class literature.” -Noam Chomsky # THE WORKERS'WAYTOFREEDOMAND OTHER COUNCIL COMMUNISTWRITINGS Anton Pannekoek Edited by Robyn K.Winters # The Workers'Way to Freedom and Other Council Communist WritingsAnton Pannekoek Edited by Robyn K.Winters 2024This edition c PM Press All rights reserved.No part of this book may be transmitted by any means withoutpermission in writing from the publisher. ISBN:979-8-88744-008-8(paperback) ISBN:979-8-88744-009-5(ebook) Library of Congress Control Number:2023930614 Cover design by John Yates/www.stealworks.com 10987654321 PM PressPO Box 23912Oakland,CA 94623www.pmpress.org Printed in the USA To all my fellow workers around the world who seeka life of freedom and cooperation for all. "Just as we obtained our doctrines through many difficult struggles,they[the younger generation]too will have to do the same,and the mostwe can do is to help them see the variegated possibilities in everything,in order that they can form their own judgments.To teach them touse their own brains is the best doctrine that can be handed down.”-Anton Pannekoek,letter to Ben Sijes(January 21,1953) CONTENTS AcknowledgmentsixEditor's NotexiiEditor's IntroductionPARTI:THE WORKERS'WAY TO FREEDOM(C.1935)CHAPTER1Capitalism9CHAPTER 2The Power of the Classes17CHAPTER3Trade Unionism29CHAPTER 4The Political Fight and Social Democracy45CHAPTER 5The Russian Revolution63CHAPTER6The Communist Party71CHAPTER7FascismCHAPTER 8The Intellectual Class95CHAPTER 9The Workers'Revolution103CHAPTER 10 The Workers'Councils 1 85 PARTII:0THER COUNCIL COMMUNIST WRITINGS(1936-54)CHAPTER11 The Party and the Working ClassCHAPTER12 State Capitalism and Dictatorship137 129 CHAPTER 13Society and Mind in Marxian Philosophy149CHAPTER 14General Remarks on the Question of Organization161CHAPTER 15Marx and Utopia-Party and Class175CHAPTER 16The Failure of the Working Class185CHAPTER 17Public Ownership and Common Ownership193CHAPTER 18Marx and Bakunin197CHAPTER 19Some Remarks on Parliamentarism201CHAPTER 20On Workers'Councils209CHAPTER 21 The Need for the Workers to Lead Themselves213APPENDIX AAnton Pannekoek by Paul Mattick225APPENDIX BArticle Versions of Manuscript Chapters239The Intellectuals240Trade Unionism246Workers'Councils260The Power of the Classes270On the Communist Party278The Role of Fascism291Index299About the Author and Editor304

FAQs

What time span do the collected writings cover?

The book gathers writings from 1935 to 1954, organized into two parts: 1935 writings and other council communist writings from 1936 to 1954.

What main topics are addressed in Part I?

Part I covers topics including capitalism, class power, trade unionism, social democracy and politics, the Russian Revolution, the communist party, fascism, intellectual class, and the workers’ revolution and councils.

What does Part II focus on?

Part II includes chapters on the party and the working class, state capitalism and dictatorship, Marxian philosophy (society and mind), questions of organization, Marx and Utopia, workers’ failure, public and common ownership, parliamentarism, and the need for workers to lead themselves.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Mimi