Rojava

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), otherwise known as Rojava, is an autonomous region in northeastern Syria. Rojava is another name for Syrian Kurdistan; see the map below to understand the 4 major regions of Greater Kurdistan. Though the movement for Kurdish liberation plays a large part in the formation of the AANES, it is a secular multi-ethnic democratic confederation. The Turkish government and the Syrian Assad regime both take hostile stances to the AANES and have been occupying parts of it since its inception.

The AANES is governed by the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and has a coalition military wing known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF is allied with and somewhat supplied by the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR), which is a US-led military coalition against Islamic State militants.

Regions of the AANES. Note that this map does not depict the often-changing regions of Turkish or Syrian Assad regime occupation.

Democratic Confederalism

The AANES' official political ideology, democratic confederalism, is inspired by Murray Bookchin's concepts of libertarian municipalism and social ecology. Democratic confederalism was developed primarily by Abdullah Öcalan, who is a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and political prisoner held by the Turkish government.

Selected Articles

The Threat to Rojava: An Anarchist in Syria Speaks on the Real Meaning of Trump’s Withdrawal via CrimethInc on December 28 2018
“The Struggle Is not for Martyrdom but for Life”: A Critical Discussion about Armed Struggle with Anarchist Guerrillas in Rojava via CrimethInc on April 18 2017
Understanding the Kurdish Resistance via CrimethInc on September 23 2015

Organizations & Publishers

Podcasts

The Women's War, a podcast by Robert Evans
- The Women's War: A Utopia in Syria?
  Published March 24 2020
  
  Episode Description
  What would you do if the government collapsed? Over the last eight years, the men and women of North-East Syria have had a chance to answer that question for themselves. Using the political theories of an American anarchist and a Kurdish terrorist, they've built a feminist oasis in the middle of the world's most brutal war.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  Footnotes:
  Bella Ciao: A “Kurdish Anthem” Made in Italy, Has Become a Global Sensation
  The PKK: Coming Down from the Mountains (Rebels)
  Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy and Women's Liberation in Syrian Kurdistan
  [iHeart]
- Sneaking Into Utopia
  Published March 31 2020
  
  Episode Description
  Robert Evans and Jake Hanrahan are ready to enter Rojava, but first they have to navigate the maze of Iraqi bureaucracy. When they cross the border, they learn that everything may not be as rosy as it sounded from the outside
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
- Law and Order Among The Anarchists
  Published April 7 2020
  
  Episode Description
  How does law and order work in a system based on anarchist political theory? In this episode, Robert visits a court for ISIS prisoners and talks to one of the top Judges in Rojava.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
- A Town For Women
  Published April 14 2020
  
  Episode Description
  In Rojava, the desire to build a society free of misogyny has led to the creation of an entire village just for women. From this place, Jinwar, they seek to heal themselves and then their society.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
- Grandma Law And Revolutionary Sacrifice
  Published April 21 2020
  
  Episode Description
  In this episode, we visit an all-women farming commune and a group of grandmas who have taken the task of local law enforcement into their own hands.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
- On Patrol In ISIS's Old Capital
  Published April 28 2020
  
  Episode Description
  In this episode, we travel to the city of Raqqa to meet the male and female co-presidents in charge of its defense and embed with a mixed-gender military unit in the streets of the Islamic State's former world headquarters.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
- The Women Warriors
  Published May 5 2020
  
  Episode Description
  In this episode, we visit a training base for Rojava's all-female militia, and talk to young soldiers about their transition from life as slaves of ISIS, to armed revolutionaries fighting for their freedom.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus).
  [iHeart]
- The End of the Women's War
  Published May 12 2020
  
  Episode Description
  Robert, Jake and Khabat interview ISIS brides and their victims in an attempt to understand how Rojava's utopian dreams can co-exist with the brutal realities of terrorism and justice.
  Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)
  [iHeart]
It Could Happen Here
- Rojava Solidarity with the Emergency Committee for Rojava
  Published May 9 2024
  
  Episode Description
  James, Robert, and Mia are joined by Debbie Bookchin (@debbiebookchin) and Arthur Pye (@TheArthurPye) to talk about the situation in Rojava, how listeners can help, and the ECR’s upcoming speaking tour.
  For more information about the Emergency Committee for Rojava and their upcoming West Coast speaking tour (May 11-17) featuring Debbie Bookchin and Arthur Pye, go to defendrojava.org or follow @defendrojava on any social media platform.
  For a more in-depth reflection on the Rojava revolution, Arthur's recent writings can be found in Strange Matters magazine.
  [iHeart]
- What Turkey’s Elections Can Teach Us about Defending Democracy
  Published April 24 2024
  
  Episode Description
  James talks to Meghan Bodette of the Kurdish Peace institute about the recent elections in Turkey, the Van uprising, and aggression against Kurdish people in Europe and in Kurdistan.
  [iHeart]
- How Are Kurdistan’s Freedom Guerrillas Shooting Down Drones?
  Published March 21 2024
  
  Episode Description
  Mia and James discuss the recent release of videos showing the HPG shooting down Turkish drones, as well as the arrival of MANPADS in Myanmar.
  [iHeart]
- Turkey’s Drone War Against the Rojava Revolution
  Published January 7 2024
  
  Episode Description
  James is joined by Berivan from the YPJ Information & Documentation Office to discuss the ongoing drone war against Rojava and how the revolution there is making progress despite this. Check out @ypj_info on Twitter.
  [iHeart]
- Drone Strikes in Rojava
  Published October 23 2023
  
  Episode Description
  James is joined by Robert, Shereen, and Gare to discuss the drone strikes in North and East Syria after his recent trip to the region.
  [iHeart]
- The ISIS Detainees in AANES and Why the International Community Won’t Help
  Published August 16 2023
  
  Episode Description
  James is joined by Meghan Bodette to discuss how the AANES has been left to deal with the thousands of ISIS fighters in its territory after the defeat of the territorial ‘caliphate’ and the impact of drone strikes on the region.
  @kurdishpeaceorg on Twitter
  [iHeart]
- The Devastating Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
  Published February 7 2023
  Episode Description
  Shereen discusses the recent earthquakes that have devastated Turkey and Syria, the subsequent international response, and how sanctions have worsened Syria’s chance of recovery.
  [iHeart]
- Resisting Turkish Imperialism in Rojava ft Debbie Bookchin
  Published November 30 2022
  
  Episode Description
  We talk with Debbie Bookchin and researcher Meghan Bodette about the revolution in northern Syria, the Kurdish freedom movement, and how to prevent Turkey from carrying out their plans to wipe it out.
  [iHeart]