The democratic confederal system in Rojava is still under development, the speed has been slowed by the constant attacks they have to deal with and the embargo imposed by the Turkish state. Yet many great steps have been taken towards establishing an alternative economic system that provides an alternative to the dualism of capitalism and communism.
Hesekê [Hesîçe / Al-Hasakeh / Hasakah] — The first cooperative of the Women’s Economy Council in Kongreya Star was successful in its first project and is preparing for more. Kongreya Star formed an economic committee for women with 20 members and 5 administrators in Hesekê on 18th June 2016, with the aim of letting women accomplish self-sufficiency, and providing work opportunities. After
Kongreya Star is a confederation of women’s movements throughout the region of Rojava, a predominantly Kurdish area of northern Syria, also referred to as West-Kurdistan. While Kurds make up the majority of Rojava and most of the population is Muslim, the area is home to many different peoples, including Arabs, Assyrians and Ezidis, as well
In their search for an alternative, solidarity form of economy, the Kurdish freedom movement has organized a series of events, workshops, podium discussions and bigger conferences under the motto, “Let’s communalize our land, our water and our energy, let’s build a democratic, free life!”
Anja Flach, Ercan Ayboğa and Michel Knapp are longtime activists in the Kurdish freedom movement, working in Germany and Turkey. Together they visited Rojava in May 2014, and with their language skills, contacts and knowledge of the Kurdish movement, they were able to do close fieldwork for a full month. Upon their return, they compiled
In Amed, the Bağlar Women’s Cooperative and the Beacon of Hope Women’s Environmental and Cultural Cooperative are just two of the places where women self-organise. Nurcan Aydın In Amed [Diyarbakır], the Bağlar Women’s Cooperative and the Beacon of Hope Women’s Environmental and Agricultural Cooperative are just two of the places where women self organise. The Bağlar Women’s Cooperative was
Îhsan Ehmed HESEKÊ – The cooperative Women’s Economy will put 70% of the paste they have produced up for sale. The members of the cooperative satisfy their needs and earn an income through these sales. The Rojava region has been under economic siege for some time. The community tries to fortify its economy against this siege with
After the city Kobanê [Kobanî / Ayn al-Arab] was liberated from the Baath-regime on the 19th of July 2012, the Rojava Revolution has been much talked about. Since then, a lot of progress has been made in the areas of military and politics, and now the focus is on the economy. Despite the continuing war, work on an
The Qesrik [Kasrek] Co-operative is one of the largest institutions of social economy in Rojava. The 4,000 members of the co-operative are working on projects in agriculture and animal husbandry. Two months ago, following many meetings and much deliberation, the villagers of Qesrik, 50 kilometers south of Dirbêsiyê, constructed a large co-operative. Every member pays
In Girkê Legê [Al-Muabbada], half a ton of vegetables are collected daily from the cooperatives. The vegetables reach the population with affordable prices through the community market. GIRKÊ LEGÊ / ANHA – In the town of Rimêlan in Girkê Legê, the project set out by the Center for Economic Development two years ago has begun
A Presentation by Abdurrahman Hemo, adviser for economic development in Cizîre Canton, Dêrîk On December 2, the academic delegation to Rojava visited the economic center in Dêrîk. There we heard a presentation on Rojava’s economy from Abdurrahman Hemo, the adviser for economic development for Cizîre canton. Hemo explained what he called Rojava’s three parallel economies:
Revolution in Rojava is the first book-length account of the unique and extraordinary political situation in Rojava, Syria. In this article, Janet Biehl talks to the authors and discusses how and why the new society in Rojava so inspired them. For decades, three million Syrian Kurds have lived under brutal repression by the Assad regime,
