Rojava: An Experiment in Radical Direct Democracy Within a War-Torn Country

Janet Biehl discusses the significance and the achievements of the political project in Northern Syria that’s led by the Kurds
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[@derekperry1745]

I hope and pray Rojava stands strong. I never thought libertarian socialism was feasible in the modern world. Thank you so much for proving me wrong Rojava and the Kurdish people. We must get Rojava internationally recognized! Who cares what Tukey and Assad want!

[@johnspark2869]

Derek P. Give them country near ur homeland if u r that much on love with them. U know pkk and ypg r responsible for many innocent live in turkey u just dont know the thir history. And usa established free syrian army to fight agains daeş now usa turned their back on them why do u think is this? Now usa supporting rojawa can u not see usa just wants conflict in the middle east. Dont get brain washed by all this

[@temujin7242]

Rojava is a good place to start democracy. i support the kurds to self govern. their ideals are noble

[@johnspark2869]

Temujin well if they were noble they wouldnt be carrying attacks on innocent civillians of turkey with their friends pkk in turkey. Pkk is even in the terroris group list in america can u not see this just a pr campaign for then. Usa established free syrian army against daeş now turned their back on them only thing that matters for usa in middle east is constant conflict. Usa know turkey will never tolerate ypg in region so sneakly they want to suck turkey in this conflict so they can have excuse to attack to turkey can u just not see this?

[@Daibamaikati69]

I love those Kurds man. Such a good people. Never met a bad Kurd.

[@dowskivisionmagicaloracle8593]

That means you haven't really got to know them. All peoples have a "bad" element.

[@johnspark2869]

DowskiVision MagicalOracle agree with u 100 percent pkk and ypg sympathizer kurds are (not ordinary kurd ) are responsible for many innocent lives in turkey . Pkk even consired terrorist group list in usa. Pkk is known for their strong ties with ypg so this is just a pr campaign for them to look good to the rest of the world dont get brainwashed people

[@kurdistan1983-x3w]

God bless you my brave Kurdish woman's so proud of you,long lasting Kurdistan🙏

[@Gkuljian]

I had to check to see if it was April 1st. I thought maybe homo sapiens had jumped the shark. Evidently there are still people on this earth who care about people. Thank you. In a time like this, stories like this are very much needed. What an inspiration. America is such a lowlife. Will we ever learn?

[@abram730]

Actual liberals are all but banned from the MSM. Only on Alternate media can you find them. In my area people on the left are teaching farming in urban areas as the direction of the country is dark and such skills could be life and death.

[@michaelbrettauer6860]

Watching how democracy has rapidly dissolved and turned into a capitalist monopolized oligarchy here in The US, and how the Kurds have truly fought to get to where they are now, I am very inspired to go fight alongside the ypg. It's an incredible form of revolution that The US still hasn't been able to sustain completely for itself after defeating the British in our Revolutionary War(most likely because of the hippocritical class system)... Especially in terms of woman's rights and thriving to understanding humanity. What's happening in Rojava is so much more than meets the eye. When this revolution is complete it will be so interesting to see how its influence and might will spread through the middle-east. I am inspired by such new found glory and I truly believe that they will have the freedom from oppression that they deserve.

[@bauglirm7036]

From the river to the sea Kurdistan will be free !!

[@notrombones5041]

We should find a way for the Kurds.

[@temujin7242]

notrombones just start a donation campagin with their government and people

[@LuisAldamiz]

The Kurds are finding a way we should also adopt ourselves.

[@chayabat-tzvi1215]

If socialists in the West were serious, they'd head on over to Rojava and help build the revolution.

[@grasander]

Many do

[@RedFlagSaid]

Most don't. The ones that do go over there the most are adventurous military types, haters of Islamists, not revolutionaries.

[@grasander]

Of course most don't. Most people can't and won't be soldiers, that's true regardless of ideology And that's going for people in their own countries, we're talking about people from completely different cultures, speaking different languages going half a world away to fight

[@RedFlagSaid]

Richard Dekker It's safer that way.

[@serjthereturn]

they said they don't need any more foreign military volunteers but ask westerners to campaign at home to get our governments to help them. Which is what I'm doing. Many have already volunteered anyway

[@ishakselcuk3121]

Thank you for your all information, researches and comments about Rojava. Although it was quite difficult to understand the situation in Rojava, I think you explained very well. The revolution in Rojava, as I see, it is like a renaissance in the Middle East. It is an attempt at a direct entry from dictatorship to democracy. I hope they can keep it up. And I think we all should support that revolution for Kurds, for minorities, for women, for democracy, for ecology and for the peace in the Middle East.

[@justgivemethetruth]

The more I find out about the Kurds, the more I respect and find them admirable. Being attacked from all sides by toxic festering corruption of the various Islamic sects who dominate and enslave any and all non-Muslims within the borders of their states, the Kurds have held on and fought for their freedom. Why should they have to fight and die for their freedom ... the whole world should be united against the Islamic countries who all abuse their people, even the Muslims, because it is all about greed and lust for power with the Muslim states. Their governments do not care about human values and rights.

[@cenzoredworld]

sorry to break it to you, but Kurds are Muslim. Majority is Sunni more specifically. The Kurdish people are an Iranian group as opposed to Arabs and Turks that tend to rule them. Yazidis, for example, are a small religious sect of Kurds, as the Kurds are not solely Muslim. However, if they had a state, it would be greatly influenced by Islam. Now, that being said they tend to interpret Islam in a more or less liberal way, with a long, secular political tradition. Yes, they should have a state.

[@cassidywilson9456]

cenzoredworld yea they are mainly Sunni but, that does not mean that they are islamists. The pkk though not as amazing as the speaker makes them out to be is DEEPLY secular. Coming out of comminism. The middle East is more complicated than that. Arabs have a long tradition of secular nationalism as well as communism and socialism

[@cassidywilson9456]

I mean Arabs also have a secular tradition obviously Kurds are not Arabs. Though they coexist in the same political space

[@chayabat-tzvi1215]

+Sher Dahan And what has Sunni doctrine done to make humankind whole? Nothing. Why are all the true Islamic communists Shias or Sufis?

[@cenzoredworld]

***** depends on how you define "communism". Communism more broadly speaking is not just Marxism and other western philosophers. Ancient Mesopotamia had socialist economies and communes have existed all over the world without any input from the west.

[@masawemcfranco7111]

the Rojava revolution like the zapatistas to mention only the two most recent expressions of libertarian socialism in practise provide a model for the future of radical left discourse and practise and a viable alternative to so called democratic socialism even in its most radical articulation witch has severe limitations not least of witch is its attachment to statist and nationalistic politics libertarian socialism/anarcho-communism is the only way forward for those of us the world over committed to the fight against global neoliberal capitalism and the misery and ecological destruction that it produces. whats more i would urge any one of good conscience and moral courage to do what they can to inform other about what is happening in Rojava and support the Kurds in there struggle by any means at your disposal. Long live the revolution Long live Kurdistan All power to the people

[@xSaecredChaotixx]

is anarchy that much of q dirty word in academia?

[@LuisAldamiz]

They don't consider themselves "anarchist" but rather follow the ideas of Murray Bookchin ("communalism"?) adapted by Öçalan and others. Bookchin abandoned anarchism because he found it too "lifestyle" and "utopian" and also he had a Marxist background (Trotskyist), so he forged his own anarcho-marxist synthesis instead.

[@pathacker4963]

Informative interview.

[@johnanderson4821]

This is good news.

[@bigbadborders]

A lot of anarcho-communists are talking about this as well. Exciting times we live in!

[@lutherdean6922]

thank you for this coverage, found out about this story looking up DAVID GRAEBER

[@silemansilo8642]

❤❤❤❤

[@qadirokobane495]

her bijî😘😘😘✌✌😍

[@AmNotHere911]

'wear their religion on a sleeve' The Kurds of Turkey are the most devout muslims in Turkey, more so the Turks. And they have history on this too I suggest this lady read up on the Said Nursi revolt.

[@nimohododo8157]

❤🇺🇸❤

[@dowskivisionmagicaloracle8593]

*sniff* *sniff* why do I smell bullshit?

[@AmNotHere911]

For those inquiring whether the YPG/PYG (AKA PKK in Syria) are the cuddly feminists fighters here's an article that highlights the crimes they're committing in Syria: www.thenation.com/article/have-the-syrian-kurds-committed-war-crimes/ Note not for the Apo/Ocalan cultists. Like I said I'm amazed at the pro-PKK/PYD/YPG puff pieces TRNN regularly does.

[@michaelbrettauer6860]

It's war. Every single nation that has been involved in a war has list of war crimes both sides committed. I get what you are saying, but it's war. People don't stand in line waiting to shoot anymore. The idea of a Gentleman's war died with the evolution of modern weaponry and tactics. In the end Both sides are fighting for forms of freedom, it is up to the people to decide what freedoms are right and what freedoms are wrong. Hence the beauty of democracy. The US Fell and is continuing to fallto its ominous demise that was clearly written in Madison, and hamilton's "The federalist papers". Not a surprise since the constitution was written signed and reviewed by the wealthiest of each colony. Rojava has the chance to maintain something incredible. However, like I said, it's war and its ugly.

[@GooglyGook12]

AmNotHere911 Coming for that toothbrush boiiii

[@ncroc]

They invaded mostly Sunni Arab regions.

[@chayabat-tzvi1215]

Sunnism is a perversion of Islam. Shias have historically been much more partial to communism. In fact, I'd say Shi'ism leads one to communism, Sunnism leads one to fascism.

[@temujin7242]

ncroc Rojava is the new true democracy in middle east.

[@LuisAldamiz]

They LIBERATED them from the worst fascism (DAESH) and gave them full rights.

[@MrGwa83]

the presenter is so annoying... Her demeanor belittles the subject matter.. Show some respect

[@AmNotHere911]

In case anyone is wondering how the PKK &YPG/PYD (Syrian PKK) recruits Kurds into their army here's how it's done; The Kurd who told me this tell me that a PKK/YPG/PYD member would approach a Kurdish family and order (with threats of future violence if not cooperative) to hand over a son (and if they don't have any sons then a daughter) for a month of political indoctrination in Bukharinism and Marxism as well as training in arms then once they returned back to civilian life they called every few months to serve at whatever front-line the party wants them to serve and this include going into foreign countries like Iraq and Syria. Here's the kicker even though the PKK/YPG/PYD like to portray themselves as secularists in public (despite being militant atheists in private) the majority of Kurds in Turkey (don't believe me go to Şanlıurfa and Malatya on Friday and check how busy the mosques get - overflowing onto the street) and Syria are devout Sunni muslims. The more militant PKK/YPG/PYD call this 'arab mental colonisation' and want to replace this religiousity of the Kurds with the political cult of Ocalan. The Kurds aren't a monolithic entity and the PKK/YPG/PYD aren't it's sole representatives.

[@Pillsfordrills]

Very informative, too bad none of it is true...

[@Leftistattheparty]

source?

[@AmNotHere911]

Wrong ethnicity pal, my ancestors are found way far to the east but please continue with your bilge.

[@Leftistattheparty]

AmNotHere911 again. source?

[@AmNotHere911]

'again. source?' I have to source my ethnicity? They say the internet has all sorts, never believed that till I read this post.

[@nathansharp5743]

She says "Ocalan gave up the aim of establishing a state" but then later on says that "they've renamed Rojava "The Federation of Northern Syria" to be more inclusive. That's your classic newspeak right there: "Its stateless, but they declared their selves a state" I see two fates for the Rojavan experiment. Either it will collapse due to leftist infighting, or a series of political purges will make it a more cohesive, yet tyrannical nation state. It will certainly not become the classless, stateless utopia that these leftists have always promised. This didn't happen in Russia, Cuba, China or Venezuella, and it won't happen here either. This is all just classical, Commie rhetoric. This woman is no different than John Reed, the typical lefty who sugar coats the burgeoning regime, ignoring the details of its despotic reality that we will gradually come to know the gory details of in the future.

[@rami6259]

Nathan Sharp they mean it’s a stateless form of government, but it is still a state in the region landmass sense of the word

[@LuisAldamiz]

No, it's the practical compromise to create "Cuba-Switzerland" in the areas they have managed to liberate, their aim is to totally replace the "nation-state" (dictatorship of one ethnicity) by a much more comprehensive and balanced new form of polity but they also accept compromises with the existing states if possible.