In what many outside of the territory are referring to as the Rojava Revolution, a major shift in political philosophy and political programmatics has taken place in Kurdistan. Yet, this shift is not limited to the region of Rojava, or what many call Syrian or Western Kurdistan – a region where the Democratic Union Party
In October 2016 Peter Loo travelled to Rojava* to volunteer as an English teacher and participate in work within civil society – the outcome of over 14 months of organising within the Plan C Rojava solidarity cluster. He is currently working for the SYPG campaign in Qamishlo. As well as directly offering his skills Peter has been able to visit places in Rojava and speak to many people as the future of Rojava, and Syria in general, continues to hang in the air. This interview took place late in December 2016.
”Through the communal economy we will break the siege on Rojava. The economy is the backbone of the community, and this will happen only through the participation of women, because women are half of the society and they will play a significant role in improving the economy.
A journey into the heart of the revolution and the strategies of transition towards a social economy: the multiplication of communes and cooperatives, and experimentation with new models of social, political and economic organisation.
In Rojava, the significance of the co-operative system lies in efforts to democratise all sectors of society, including the economy. For this reason, creating alternative means and avenues that allow traditionally marginalised groups such as women to actively participate and engage with the market is an essential aspect of the radical democratic model.
The Centre for Economic Development is a non-governmental organisation that works to develop the local economy through the social sectors, and to support small and medium enterprises in order to improve people’s living conditions, especially the poor and middle classes. The centre believes that this goal cannot be achieved without supporting the cooperative societies in various fields.
In Rojava, the economic activities of women are being organised in the form of communes and cooperatives. For about two years, women have been meeting in small cooperatives. This gets them out of their homes and secures them financial earnings, while at the same time providing products to the population at an adequate price.
While Naide Zengin was working on building sites in England she had wished to do something for Rojava, so she prepared a greenhouse project. “Finding my country and putting my work into it allowed me to be reborn. In this rebirth there is hope for a brand new world and a future. I have chosen the place I want to die”, she says.
The Economic Committee in Cizîrê Canton formed 21 agricultural cooperative societies in Hesekê and its rural surroundings, including three special cooperatives for women, during a meeting.
Under the Baath regime, Rojava had to provide wheat for the whole of Syria. And it had to export oil in order to make foreign currency for Syria. Nothing else.
And now? As long as there is war, this will determine the economy of Rojava. 70% of the budget is used for weapons, ammunition, logistics, and so on. That’s $10,000 a month. Then the families of fallen fighters need to be supported if they no longer have an income. They are given land and they are accepted into cooperatives. There are also cooperatives being opened in craft and trade specifically for them. Finally, because of the embargo, petrol and wheat cannot be exported. And the prices for commodities like vegetables and textiles are climbing.
People who live in Kürmes village in the Dersim region solve their problems with collective structures. In the village of 100 inhabitants, there are three different committees, which are mostly made up of women. These committees are tools of collective decision making on all topics which may arise, such as roads, water, nature and environmental protection, the economy or human relationships.
Women are the most dynamic force in the economy. What’s special in Rojava is that every day women are organising and taking control of new projects in areas ranging from agriculture to the textile industry. With the communal economy as their basis, the women are developing skills in order to produce according to the needs of the people. Their aim is to provide healthy nutrition and a contented life. They are showing that they can do this themselves.
