Key Concepts in Labor History and Colonialism
Key Concepts in Labor History
This section defines key terms related to labor history and social movements.
Working Class
A group of individuals who contribute work in production in exchange for a wage, without individual ownership or control of the means of production.
Chartism
A movement for political and social reform in the UK, named after the ‘People’s Charter,’ which reflected its principles.
Luddites
A labor movement whose actions were based on spontaneous revolts, attacking the means of production. They considered machines a threat to workers’ interests, causing unemployment and wage decline.
Phalansteries
Community groups where property was collective, and men, women, and children shared tasks.
Bakunin
Russian anarchist who defended the collectivist thesis.
Engels
German philosopher and revolutionary, Marx’s collaborator and a political leader of the 1st International.
Marx
Socialist thinker, German Jewish father of scientific socialism and communism.
Proudhon
French political philosopher and revolutionary, considered one of the fathers of anarchism and its first economic trend, mutuality.
CNT (National Confederation of Labor)
A union that pursued a classless society, with a direct confrontation with owners.
PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party)
A party that held a radical class position, contrary to collaboration with the bourgeoisie and linked with the UGT.
Labor Party
A party strengthened by the need to create its own political organization from joining trade unions (Trade Union Council).
SPD (German Social Democratic Party)
A Marxist party that sought to gain political power through non-violent revolutionary action and implement a socialist society, defining the outlines of European social democracy.
Rosa Luxemburg
Jewish Marxist theoretician who argued that socialism could only come through proletarian revolution.
AIT (International Workers’ Association)
Established in London by representatives of British and French workers’ associations and Italian and German political emigrants. Later joined by workers’ societies from different countries and people involved in social struggle, it was organized into national sections and a General Council headed by Marx.
Gain
Benefit beyond receiving a worker’s salary.
Social Democracy
A political approach that, through political struggle and parliamentary action, aimed to make social and democratic reforms and other improvements to the conditions of the working class.
Clara Zetkin
German communist politician who fought for the rights of women.
Key Concepts in Colonialism and Imperialism
This section defines key terms related to colonialism and imperialism.
Livingstone
Medical, Scottish missionary, and explorer who discovered Victoria Falls and explored the Nile.
Stanley
Scottish explorer and journalist who explored central Africa and found Livingstone.
Protectorate
A type of colonial government in which, theoretically, the Indian government was respected by the metropolis.
Colony
They had not relied on self-government and the Metropolitan Government.
Domain
Areas with a sparse Indian population where the white minority government was imposed, along with a parliamentary system.
Concession
A grant of rights, land, or property by a government, especially to a company or other private entity.
Mandate
An organization in which a colonial power exercised authority over a territory.
Metropolitan Territory
The original territory of a colonial power.
Berlin Conference
A conference held to solve the problems posed by colonial expansion in Africa and to resolve its division.
Taylorism
A method of business organization whose purpose is to increase productivity, eliminate useless worker movements, and optimize the time spent to reduce costs.
Fordism
A mode of production based on the assembly line, leading to the agreements of Henry Ford.
Pasteur
French chemist.
Darwin
English naturalist whose theory of survival of animals was used to justify imperialism.
Monroe Doctrine
A statement that reflects the principles of U.S. foreign policy regarding the rights and activities of the powers of the American continent, espoused by James Monroe, ‘America for Americans.’
Holding
A capital finance company that owns several companies to monitor their activities.
Trust
The merger of several companies into a new one.
Cartel
An association of companies to restrict or remove competition.
Monopoly
A manufacturer or distributor has a monopoly on a product and imposes price control.