ABSTRACT
As a movement, the CNT was primarily concerned with union matters and remained independent of the political parties. However, in order to accede to control of the organisation, a minimum grasp of anarchist ideology was necessary. As a result, a distinction was established between the leaders, the grass-roots militants and the membership at large. The leaders were the most politically conscious sector. They had achieved a familiarity with the basic principles of the organisation and its doctrinal arguments, and had done this through the reading of books, pamphlets and the press. This qualification, of course, ‘required by the acquisition, or prior possession, of an acceptable level of literacy’. These leaders were always surrounded by a large group of militants, who were well informed on political and social affairs and the organisation’s position on these. This group would read the press, attend union meetings and frequent the local study and debating centres known as ateneos and libraries, in search of the information necessary for their activism. Finally there was the membership at large. With some variations this was always around several hundred thousand during this period. Their relationship to the organisation was generally quite loose. They paid their dues, but often they had to be badgered to do so. They would not normally attend meetings at the union centres or branch offices, and their participation in labour conflicts and protest demonstrations depended on the degree of success these could be seen to have. For the majority of this sector, the CNT defended the standard of living of the workers and fought to better them. For the leaders and the activists anarcho-syndicalism was a force destined to bring about revolutionary change in society.
