The International Workingmen's Association

The founding of the international working men's association was a momentous event in the history of labor, socialism, communism, anarchism and revolution. Intentionally casting the net as wide as poss able meant that every fish in the sea wound up coming on board. Some felt that the movement couldn't work without powerful direction from a central authority giving orders from the top down. The schism between communists and anarchists would have profound implications for the course of the russian revolutions of 19 o five and 19 17 and beyond.