Revolution in Rojava: democratic autonomy and women's liberation in Syrian Kurdistan

"Surrounded by enemies including ISIS and hostile Turkish forces, the people in Syria's Rojava region are carving out one of the most radically progressive societies on the planet. Visitors have been astounded by the success of their project, a communally organised democracy which considers women's equality indispensable, has a deep-reaching ecological policies, and rejects reactionary nationalist ideology. This form of organization, labeled democratic confederalism, is both fiercely anti-capitalist and boasts a self-defense capacity which is keeping ISIS from their gates. Drawing on their own firsthand experiences of working and fighting in the region, the authors provide the first detailed account of a revolutionary experiment and a new vision of politics and society in the Middle East and beyond"--Back cover

"Revolution in Rojava, the first full book to appear on the democratic gender-equal, cooperative revolution under way in northern Syria, was originally published in German in March 2015 VSA Verlag. This English version began as a direct translation, but over the course of 16 months, it has been extensively revised and updated, so in many respects it is a new book."--Translator's note, page xi

Prologue : on the road to Til Kocȩr -- Background -- Rojava's diverse cultures -- Democratic confederalism -- The liberation -- A women's revolution -- Democratic autonomy in Rojava -- Civil society associations -- Defense: the theory of the Rose -- The new justice system -- The democratization of education -- Health care -- The social economy -- Ecological challenges -- Neighbors -- Prospects -- Afterward : the philosophy of democratic autonomy.