Ours to Master and to Own
Workers' Control from the Commune to the Present
From the dawning of the industrial epoch, wage earners have organized themselves into unions,
fought bitter strikes, and gone so far as to challenge the very premises of the system by creating
institutions of democratic self-management aimed at controlling production without bosses. With
specific examples drawn from every corner of the globe and every period of modern history, this
pathbreaking volume comprehensively traces this often underappreciated historical tradition.
Ripe with lessons drawn from historical and contemporary struggles for workers’ control, Ours to
Master and to Own is essential reading for those struggling to create a new world from the ashes
of the old.
Immanuel Ness is professor of political science at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, and edits WorkingUSA.
Dario Azzellini is a writer, documentary director, and political scientist at Johannes Kepler University in Linz.
Reviews
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“Ours to Master and to Own is the most substantive and comprehensive work on workers’ control and self-management today. I strongly recommend this work, which provides examples drawn from throughout the world of workers struggling for justice and power.”
—Gary Younge, columnist for the Guardian and the Nation
“The seemingly logical and just idea that workers themselves should make the decisions regarding and reap the benefits of their labor has always been a fraught concept with the potential to topple or reform whole societies… This ambitious, copiously researched, and clearly written text provides a sweeping diversity of examples, analyzed with cool detachment from the specific politics but with underlying passion for the larger concept.”
—Kari Lydersen, author of Revolt on Goose Island
“With the global capitalist order entering a period of crisis, but also with the dramatic increase in worker’s struggles especially in the global South, this collection is extremely opportune. Workers will seek greater control over market forces and workers’ councils are bound to reemerge. A must-read for labor analysts and activists alike.”
—Ronaldo Munck, Dublin City University and University of Liverpool
“Ness and Azzellini have made a major contribution in producing this insightful and exciting collection of essays on the question of workers’ control… it is timely and offers great strategic insight.”
—Bill Fletcher, Jr., coauthor of Solidarity Divided
“Excellent! A very complete, serious, and inspiring account of the movements for workers’ control and their difficulties. There is no doubt that it should become a standard point of reference for future discussions and actions.”
—John Holloway, author of Crack Capitalism -
Ours to Master and to Own is the most substantive and comprehensive work on workers’ control and self-management today. I strongly recommend this work, which provides examples drawn from throughout the world of workers struggling for justice and power.”
Gary Younge, columnist for the Guardian and the Nation
The seemingly logical and just idea that workers themselves should make the decisions regarding and reap the benefits of their labor has always been a fraught concept with the potential to topple or reform whole societies This ambitious, copiously researched, and clearly written text provides a sweeping diversity of examples, analyzed with cool detachment from the specific politics but with underlying passion for the larger concept.”
Kari Lydersen, author of Revolt on Goose Island
With the global capitalist order entering a period of crisis, but also with the dramatic increase in worker’s struggles especially in the global South, this collection is extremely opportune. Workers will seek greater control over market forces and workers’ councils are bound to reemerge. A must-read for labor analysts and activists alike.”
Ronaldo Munck, Dublin City University and University of Liverpool
Ness and Azzellini have made a major contribution in producing this insightful and exciting collection of essays on the question of workers’ control it is timely and offers great strategic insight.”
Bill Fletcher, Jr., coauthor of Solidarity Divided
Excellent! A very complete, serious, and inspiring account of the movements for workers’ control and their difficulties. There is no doubt that it should become a standard point of reference for future discussions and actions.”
John Holloway, author of Crack Capitalism
Other books edited by Dario Azzellini and Immanuel Ness
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The Class Strikes Back
Edited by Dario Azzellini and Michael G. Kraft -
Communes and Workers' Control in Venezuela
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Urban Revolt
Edited by Immanuel Ness, Trevor Ngwane, et al.