ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a limited survey of the numerous studies on strikes and outlines the main thrust of analyses. Exhaustive data for France have existed since the beginning of the Third Republic, so specialists are well situated to measure the quantitative importance of strikes and the evolution of strike activity. The hypothesis that the overall sociopolitical structure influences strike movements was put forth years ago in nearly identical fashion by Knowles and by Ross and Hartman. As the union begins to adopt reformist objectives, strike movements decrease in average duration and diminish in intensity. Shorter and Tilly, proceeding in this fashion, put forth the hypothesis that "strike movements develop out of a solid organizational base and collective tradition of the working class; they stem much less than commonly believed from the impulsive action of the unorganized and the unaffiliated". In sum, the events of 1981 were not brought about by any social movement, nor did they generate any such movement.
