Syndicate, a form of monopoly association in the period of imperialism, which combines enterprises mass-producing 350 similar products. The syndicate members remain owners of their means of production, while the product manufactured is sold as the property of the association. Marketing, and infrequently, the acquisition of raw materials, are handled by the syndicate office which collects the commodities from the syndicate members at a fixed price. The office, therefore, functions as an intermediate link between production and the market, thus breaking their direct contact. The purpose of the syndicate, just like any other form of monopoly association, is to extract maximum monopoly profits, and acquire greater competitive strength. The extensive spread of syndicates featured the first half of the 20th century, especially in Germany and France; in prerevolutionary Russia, certain syndicates controlled up to 90 per cent of the commodities produced by their respective industries. Syndicates were also used by employers as a form of capitalist class organisation in the struggle against proletariat. Currently this form is not widespread.