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Why did anarcho-syndicalists support the general strike?

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Red anarchy symbol, a capital letter A inside a circle, painted with rough brush strokes on a white background. — anarchism The “circle-A,” a common anarchist symbol.

Anarcho-syndicalists supported the general strike as a primary revolutionary strategy to dismantle capitalism and the state. By fostering an atmosphere of constant militancy, they aimed to reach a tipping point of noncooperation—often referred to as the "revolution of folded arms"—which they believed would cause the collapse of the existing social and political order in a single, overwhelming act.12

Beyond its role as a tool for destruction, the general strike was intended to demonstrate the power of the working class to seize control of factories and utilities. Anarcho-syndicalists viewed the trade union as having a dual function: it served as an organ of struggle within the current system and as the administrative body that would manage the economy following the revolution. By collectively withholding their labor, workers sought to transition directly into a system where industries were owned and managed by the workers themselves.12