All workers in all industries of a municipality, region, or nation refusing at the same time to work.
The concept was developed in the 1830's by the English socialist William Benbow and the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union. They advocated what was called a Grand National Holiday of the Working Class in the hope of bringing an end to capitalism and bringing control of management to the workers. Revolutionaries in France in the 1880's were next to use it. Up until World War II it was used in several national attempts to overthrow the government. During and after World War II, peoples of occupied nations have used it as a way of applying pressure on the occupying forces to leave the country.
Strikes carried out by the trade unions of France in 1880's, Belgium in 1893, Russia 1903 and 1905, the UK in 1926, Athens in 1943, Denmark in1944, France in 1960, and Chile in 1980 are examples of a general strike.
The advantages of the general strike are: it is less objectionable to the more pacifistic elements of the population than other forms of insurrection.
It is, according to some, less likely to lead to a dictatorship.
Strikes of short duration have been most effective for drawing the largest number of workers.
While general strikes have never actually resulted in overthrowing a political system, they have been successful in changing governments within a specific system.
They are effective in disrupting the economy and in demonstrating the size and strength of opposition to a government.
1. A general strike incapacitates production and service. 2. Often it hurts the working class more than the social system it is intended to combat. 3. Without other forms of calling attention to the objectives of the strike, it can easily be declared ineffective.