Gulistan Murad, spokeswoman for the Kongra-Star economics committee, explains the importance of building an autonomous communal women’s economy.
The Rojava revolution is also an economic revolution. On the basis of a communal democratic economy based on needs, a new, alternative system to capitalism and industrialism is being built step by step. The focus is on empowering society. Strengthening the autonomous women’s economy plays a special role in this.
In this ANF interview, Gulistan Murad from the economics committee of the Kongra-Star women’s movement spoke about the importance of building the women’s economy and developing this area. She also highlighted problems that economic reconstruction has to contend with.
You keep talking about “women’s economic self-defense.” What does that mean?
I think it would not be wrong to describe the Third World War as an economic war. This economic war is directed directly against the economy of society. The women’s economy has been hit hardest in this war. For this reason, we consider economic self-defense to be very important. Women must have a strong position in the economy. For this reason, we are committed to ensuring that women achieve economic independence. By ensuring economic self-defense, the power of women is also shown. So-called natural disasters have been increasing recently. These disasters cause great economic and ecological damage. However, they are no longer natural disasters. They have developed into war disasters that directly affect the economy. The destruction of the economy leads to social crisis and chaos. More than half of the women we have visited have not yet been able to achieve economic independence. Women who cannot defend themselves are exposed to physical and psychological attacks in all areas of life. The emancipation of women is directly linked to the economic independence of women. Of course, this doesn’t mean that women who achieve economic independence are completely liberated. Women can only liberate themselves by achieving spiritual freedom based on the right foundations. But economic independence is an important step on the road to emancipation.
When women cannot defend themselves against economic violence, they are exposed to the attacks of patriarchy. This is where the importance of self-defense becomes clear. A woman who can defend herself economically can organize herself, make her own decisions and implement them. She has the right to have a say. Self-defense requires strong self-confidence and strong willpower. We can easily see the differences between women who have achieved economic independence and those who have not. A woman who has achieved independence is the one who shapes her own life. A woman who is economically dependent on a family or an individual is denied a say and is deprived of alternative choices.
Could you say something about the concept of economic self-defense in general?
Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] says that ‘the strongest economy is the economy created by the hands of women.’ The economy created by the hands of women was stolen from women, and women were alienated from this economy. With the Rojava Revolution, a new level of struggle for women to build the economy of a region and guarantee self-defense was achieved. An economy based on individualism is not beneficial for society and women. Self-defense can be achieved by creating a collective economy. This is how the defense of a country’s economy is practiced. The struggle for self-defense is the struggle for building a new country. A woman whose country has not achieved economic independence cannot realize her economic self-defense. The struggle for self-defense is a struggle for mentality. The socialization of the economy will lead to the strengthening of self-defense.
What are the reasons why women have not been able to achieve the desired level of economic self-defense so far?
We do not have an economic system that can include all women. We have tried to reach women through cooperatives, but we have encountered obstacles here. There have been difficulties due to women’s self-image and the way society deals with the economy. Women do not see the economy or work as their own. Indeed, we are clearly feeling the consequences of the damage done to women by centuries of patriarchal social conditioning. Self-defense has not been able to reach the desired level because women have not been able to free themselves from traditional ways of thinking, have continued to see themselves confined to the home and have not been able to overcome this situation. Women who have never had economic freedom, who have never had a say, and whose rights have been violated by the Baath regime for years, cannot easily escape this clutch. Moreover, we have not managed to completely change the patriarchal mentality that limits women in their responsibilities and that sees it as a danger when women gain economic independence. To date, we have not managed to make society understand that self-defense is not just a military thing. It is our fundamental duty and responsibility to convey to women the need for self-defense, from the military to politics, from politics to education, from education to economics and diplomacy.
Wars also had a negative impact on the economy. The war environment, which caused deep damage to society, led to the destruction rather than the strengthening of the economy. The economy that was supposed to develop in the atmosphere of war was offered only limited opportunities. To ensure economic recovery, the damage must be repaired, and the conditions created for the creation of strong alternatives. In fact, the permanent war highlights the importance of economic self-defense. In a country experiencing economic collapse, society and women are exposed to massive migration pressure. There are people who cannot afford to live in a place that does not offer job opportunities.
Can you tell us something about the economic model you created with the Rojava Revolution and your measures to strengthen women’s economy?
With the Rojava Revolution, we want to build a communal economy. An economy that produces in the service of society. We strive to create a model that enables production in a collective spirit. The foundation for the communal economy was laid through cooperatives. The cooperative system was a novelty in Rojava. Under the Baath regime, we did not have a system of self-government that integrated women’s economies and integrated them into society. The economic system was in the hands of the state and society was like a recipient of orders from the state. Society had no say in the development of its economy. The cooperatives created jobs for women and offered them great opportunities to strengthen their economy and manage themselves. Indeed, social justice was achieved. By creating a system of social justice, the community was promoted. Many women could not find job opportunities. With cooperatives, women are given job opportunities and a space to realize themselves. 80 percent of the cooperatives are engaged in agriculture. The agricultural cooperatives, which were established in the seven cantons to provide every woman with a job opportunity and thus economic independence, also contribute to strengthening the country’s economic development.
How does women’s economic independence affect the relationships between women, their families and society, as well as the efforts to achieve gender equality?
The economic empowerment of women promotes equality and equal opportunities for women and men. The economic independence of women increases their self-confidence and enables them to make their own decisions. This strengthens their self-confidence and self-esteem. This enables a more balanced distribution of power in family relationships and a more effective role in decision-making processes and supports the formation of healthier and more equal relationships within the family. Women are thus encouraged to become more involved in the economic sphere and in various areas of society. This leads to greater social participation and enables women to be more active in the social sphere. This helps to reduce poverty and increase social prosperity. This in turn leads to a stronger and more sustainable society in general. For these reasons, measures and programs to promote the economic independence of women are an important step towards creating a fairer, more balanced and more sustainable social structure.
What are the plans and projects for the future?
Our main goal is to spread the understanding of the communal economic model. We have decided to focus on education in the near future, which is why we plan to open a business academy. We plan to develop cooperative projects that serve society and women. Our discussions on this are ongoing. Our main goal is to build a self-sufficient economic system.
