,?\<TS ON ,ROJAVA 
AN 9T]VIEW ) ,JANET ,BIEHL 

#baf 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,JANET ,BIEHL 

,TEXT 3 

,FULL ( ADMIRATION1 BUT NOT )\T CRITIQUE3 ,JANET ,BIEHL %>ES SOME ( H] IDEAS ON ! ,ROJAVA REVOLUTION AFT] H] REC5T VISITS TO ! REGION4 

,9 ?IS 9T]VIEW1 9DEP5D5T FILMMAK] & J\RNALI/ ,ZANY> ,OMRANI TALKS TO ,JANET ,BIEHL AB\T H] LATE COMPANION ,MURRAY ,BOOK*91 H] TRIPS TO ,ROJAVA & ! IMPORTANT QUE/ION ( H[ TO BUILD BOTTOM-UP P[] /RUCTURES )\T RISK+ ! REV]SAL ( ! PROCESS OV] TIME4 

,JANET ,BIEHL HAS TRAVEL$ TO ,ROJAVA TWICE 9 ! PA/ YE> & HAS WRITT5 EXT5SIVELY AB\T H] EXP]I5CES & OBS]VATIONS :ILE VISIT+ ! AUTONOM\S CANTONS 9 NOR!RN ,SYRIA4 ,%E IS ! AU?OR ( ! BOOK ,ECOLOGY OR ,CATA/ROPHE3 ,! ,LIFE ( ,MURRAY ,BOOK*94 

,ZANY> ,OMRANI HAS VISIT$ ,ROJAVA SEV]AL TIMES1 :]E HE DOCUM5T$ LIFE BEH9D ! FRONT-L9ES ( ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ ,I,S,I,S4 ,HIS DOCUM5T>Y1 ,9SIDE ,KOBANE3 ,KEEP+ ,ISLAMIC ,/ATE AT ,BAY1 WAS SCRE5$ BY ! ,B,B,C4 

,ZANY> ,OMRANI3 ,CAN Y\ TELL US AB\T Y\R FIR/ 5C\NT] ) ! ,KURDI% ISSUE1 & EXPLA9 :Y IT CAU<T Y\R ATT5TION8 

,JANET ,BIEHL3 ,AFT] ,BOOK*9 DI$ 9 #b#f1 SEV]AL PEOPLE S5T ME ! ,P,K,K'S /UNN+ TRIBUTE TO HIM1 :I* SAID IT W\LD 0UND]TAKE TO MAKE ,BOOK*9 LIVE 9 \R /RUGGLE0 & CREATE 0! FIR/ SOCIETY :I* E/ABLI%ES A TANGIBLE DEMOCRATIC CONF$]ALISM40 

,!N 9 #baa ! ,KURDI% ECO-ACTIVI/ ,]CAN ,AYBOGA 9VIT$ ME TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! ,MESOPOTAMIAN ,SOCIAL ,=UM 9 ,DIY>BAKIR1 :I* HE WAS ORGANIZ+4 ,HE ?\<T ! MOVEM5T & ,I MI<T HAVE ?+S TO SAY TO EA* O!R4 ,HE WAS RI<T4 

,AT ! ,M,S,F ,I F\ND A FULL-FL$G$ SOCIAL & POLITICAL MOVEM5T UND]WAY1 BRIMM+ OV] ) ACTIVISM & IDEAS AB\T ECOLOGY & G5D] EQUALITY & MU* MORE4 ,I SAW OLD] PATRI>*AL-LOOK+ M5 SITT+ & LI/5+ 9T5TLY TO #b-YE>-OLD WOM5 SPEAK+ ON PANELS AB\T HONOR KILL+S4 ,I ?\<T1 SOME?+ IS GO+ ON H]E4 

,S9CE !N ,I'VE HELP$ TRANSLATE TWO BOOKS ON ! TOPIC FROM ,G]MAN TO ,5GLI%3 ,DEMOCRATIC ,AUTONOMY 9 ,NOR? ,KURDI/AN1 WRITT5 BY A GR\P ( ,G]MAN-,KURDI% SOLID>ITY ACTIVI/S :O TRAVEL$ >\ND ,BAKUR .<,NOR? ,KURDI/AN.> TO RESE>* ! 9/ITUTIONS ( ,DEMOCRATIC ,AUTONOMY ?AT W]E BE+ CREAT$2 & ,REVOLUTION 9 ,ROJAVA1 COAU?OR$ BY ,]CAN ,AYBOGA1 :O 9VIT$ ME TO ! CONF]5CE 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,?IS BOOK WILL BE PUBLI%$ BY ,PLUTO ,PRESS SOMETIME 9 #b#a#f4 

,9 ,DECEMB] #bad ,I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO ,ROJAVA MYSELF AS P>T ( AN ACADEMIC DELEGATION4 ,WE W]E !RE = AB\T T5 DAYS4 

,TELL US MORE AB\T Y\R FIR/ TRIP TO ,ROJAVA4 ,DID ! REALITY LIVE UP TO Y\R EXPECTATIONS8 

,I HAD BE5 TRANSLAT+ ! ,G]MAN REPORTS1 SO ,I WAS FAIRLY WELL 9=M$ 9 ADVANCE4 ,BUT NO?+ C\LD PREP>E ME = ! SI<T ( Y\NG #a4#f#eM WOM5 9 UNI=MS CASUALLY HOLD+ ,KALA%NIKOVS--\R UBIQUIT\S ESCORTS4 ,& NO?+ C\LD HAVE PREP>$ ME = ACTUALLY WITNESS+ A REVOLUTION4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME ,I SAW H[ ! CONC5TRAT$ P[] ( ! COLLECTIVE HUMAN WILL CAN TRANS=M A SOCIAL ORD] 9 JU/ A %ORT TIME4 ,& H]E ! MANY IMAGES ( ,OCALAN W]E \T 9 ! OP51 UNLIKE 9 ! T5T 9 ,DIY>BAKIR--!Y W]E ON ! WALLS ( NE>LY EV]Y ROOM4 

,I MET PEOPLE :O HAD BE5 IMPRISON$ & TORTUR$ BY ! REGIME YET CONT9U$ ) ! WORK NONE!LESS TILL !Y C>RI$ ?IS PROJECT TO FRUITION4 ,MY DELEGATIONS TALK$ TO ORGANIZ]S ( ,TEV-,DEM & ,YEKITIYA ,/>2 ! REVOLUTION>IES HAD DONE SO MU* TO BUILD ! C\NCILS & O!R 9/ITUTIONS4 ,:ILE ,MURRAY WAS ALIVE1 ,I HAD /UDI$ REVOLUTION>Y HI/ORY & HELP$ HIM WRITE BOOKS AB\T IT4 ,BUT TO SEE SU* A ?+ BE=E MY EYES--IT WAS EXTRAORD9>Y4 

,COMMUNES1 ,TEV-,DEM1 #bb M9I/RIES ( CANTONS1 MUNICIPALITIES1 C\RTS--ALL !SE 9/ITUTIONS >E PUTT+ 9TO PRACTICE IDEAS ?AT PREVI\SLY ONLY EXI/$ ON PAP]4 ,TO :AT EXT5T WAS :AT Y\ SAW 9 ,ROJAVA 9 L9E ) ,BOOK*9'S ?\<T8 

,) ! TWO DELEGATIONS 7! SECOND WAS 9 ,OCTOB] #b#a#e71 ! TOTAL TIME ,I SP5T 9 ,ROJAVA IS AB\T #ac DAYS1 & ! PEOPLE :O TALK$ TO US W]E MEMB]S ( ! POLITICAL CLASS4 ,SO EV]Y?+ ,I HAVE TO SAY1 Y\ MU/ KN[1 IS BAS$ ON :AT ,I WAS TOLD1 BY PEOPLE :O KNEW ?AT 9 TALK+ TO \R GR\P ( VISIT+ \TSID]S1 !Y W]E TALK+ TO ! WORLD4 

,NE>LY EV]YONE M5TION$ ?AT ! ,ROJAVA PROJECT HAS NO /ATE & IS OPPOS$ TO ! /ATE4 ,! ,ASSAD REGIME HAD KEPT ! >EA ECONOMICALLY UNDEVELOP$1 SO :ILE CAPITALISM WAS PRES5T1 IT DID NOT %APE ! SOCIETY1 & ! POLITICAL CLASS IS COMMITT$ TO CREAT+ A COOP]ATIVE ECONOMY4 ,F>ML&S AB&ON$ BY ! REGIME HAD BE5 TURN$ 9TO AGRICULTURAL COOP]ATIVES4 ,MOREOV] ! SOCIETY ( ! ?REE CANTONS IS COMMUNALI/IC1 PEOPLE EXPLA9$1 BO? 9 PRACTICE & 9 IDEOLOGY1 RA!R ?AN 9DIVIDUALI/IC LIKE ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 

,SPECIFICALLY TO ,BOOK*91 ! 9/ITUTIONS ( DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T ?AT !Y DESCRIB$ CORRESPOND$ TO MU* ( :AT HE HAD 5VISION$ 7UND] ! NAME LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM74 ,AT ! BASE ( DEMOCRATIC CONF$]ALISM IS ! CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLY 79 ,BOOK*97 OR COMMUNE 79 ,ROJAVA74 ,! COMMUNE S5DS DELEGATES TO ! CONF$]AL C\NCIL AT ! NEI<BORHOOD LEVEL1 & ! NEI<BORHOOD C\NCIL S5DS DELEGATES TO ! DI/RICT1 & ! DI/RICT TO ! CANTON4 ,9 ?IS MULTI-TI]$ /RUCTURE1 AS ,BOOK*9 DESCRIB$ IT1 P[] IS TO FL[ FROM ! BOTTOM UP4 

,HAS ! VISION BECOME REAL8 ,9 ,DECEMB] #b#a#d1 ,I WITNESS$ A COMMUNE MEET+ 9 ,QAMISLO4 ,9 ,OCTOB] #b#a#e1 MY DELEGATION W5T TO ,AMUDE1 SEAT ( ! CANTONAL TI] ( ! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T1 :]E WE MET ,HAKAM ,KHELLO1 ! HEAD ( ! LEGISLATIVE C\NCIL4 ,I ASK$ HIM H[ MANY COMMUNES !RE >E4 ,HE TOLD ME !RE W]E #d1 9 ! LIB]AT$ >EAS1 9CLUD+ ,>AB VILLAGES & ALL O!R E?NICITIES4 

,SOME ?+S W]E NOT AS 9 ,BOOK*9'S ?\<T4 ,MO/ NOTABLY1 ,BOOK*9 DID NOT PRIORITIZE WOM5 ! WAY ,OCALAN HAS DONE4 ,BOOK*9 WAS OPPOS$ TO ALL HI]>*Y1 BUT ,OCALAN GIVES S+UL> IMPORTANCE TO ! OPPRESSION ( WOM51 & HE ASSIGNS A DI/9CTIVE OR EV5 VANGU>D ROLE TO WOM54 ,BOOK*9 DID NOT ASSIGN SU* A ROLE TO WOM51 OR CALL = #d P]C5T G5D] QUOTAS1 OR DUAL LEAD]%IP4 

,TO KN[ = SURE :E!R P[] FL[S FROM ! BOTTOM UP1 ,I W\LD NE$ TO WITNESS A DECISION MADE AT A COMMUNE MEET+1 !N FOLL[ IT TO ! NEI<BORHOOD C\NCIL1 & !N ! DI/RICT C\NCIL1 & ! CANTONAL LEVEL4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 LACK+ ! LANGUAGES1 ,I DON'T HAVE ?AT ACCESS1 SO ,I WILL HAVE TO DEP5D ON O!R RESE>*]S = SU* 9=MATION4 

,9 Y\R OP9ION1 CAN ! LEGISLATIVE & EXECUTIVE 9/ITUTIONS 9 ,ROJAVA ACT BEYOND ! HEGEMONY ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,UNION ,P>TY8 

,MY ,OCTOB] #bae DELEGATION ALSO MET ) ,CIZIRE CANTON'S PRIME M9I/]1 ! LAWY] ,AKRAM ,HESSO4 ,I ASK$ HIM :E!R P[] 9 ! SY/EM FL[$ FROM ! BOTTOM UP OR FROM ! TOP D[N4 0,WE TAKE ! IDEAS & NE$S ?AT PEOPLE AT ! BASE GIVE US10 HE SAID ?R\< AN 9T]PRET]1 0& WE /UDY !SE OP9IONS TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO AGREE IT 9TO A LAW1 TO TRANSLATE IDEAS ( PEOPLE 9TO PRACTICAL LAWS & DECISIONS40 ,I C\LDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE ?AT ?AT'S NOT QUITE ! SAME ?+ AS EXECUT+ ! POLICY DECISIONS ( ! BASE4 

,SO ,I ASK$1 H[ DO Y\ OBTA9 ! IDEAS ( ! PEOPLE8 0,WE HAVE SMALL COMMUNES 9 ! NEI<BORHOODS10 HE SAID4 0,LOCAL 9/ITUTIONS1 P>LIAM5T1 EXECUTIVE C\NCIL4 ,PEOPLE EXPRESS !IR NE$S /EP BY /EP1 UPW>D1 9 A PYRAMID40 

,WILL ELECTIONS BE HELD SOON8 ,I CONT9U$4 0,WE HAD ELECTIONS 9 MUNICIPALITIES ?IS YE>10 HE SAID1 0BUT ELECTIONS = P>LIAM5T >E PO/PON$ BECAUSE ( ! ATTACKS BY ,I,S,I,S 9 ,KOBANE & EV]Y:]E ELSE40 

,WILL ! ELECTIONS BE HELD ACCORD+ TO ! ,DUHOK AGREEM5T ( LATE #b#a#d8 ,I ASK$1 REF]R+ TO ! AGREEM5T BY :I* ! ,P,Y,D-ALIGN$ P>TIES & ! ,5,K,S-ALIGN$ P>TIES AGRE$ TO %>E EQUAL SEATS 9 ! P>LIAM5T4 0,! ,DUHOK AGREEM5T IS RELAT$ JU/ TO ! ,KURDI% P>TIES4 ,WE SUPPORT ! AGREEM5T1 WE HAVE NO PROBLEM ) IT40 

,DOES ?IS EXECUTIVE C\NCIL ( :I* Y\ >E HEAD ALSO CONTA9 NON-,P,Y,D P>TIES8 ,I ASK$4 

0,! ,KURDI% PEOPLE HAVE TWELVE P>TIES 9 ! SELF-GOV]NM5T4 ,! DEMOCRATIC SELF-ADM9I/RATION IS OP5 TO ALL ! P>TIES4 ,I AM A MEMB] ( ,5,K,S40 

,I HAD NOT KN[N ?AT & PAUS$ A MOM5T TO REGI/] SURPRISE4 ,LAT] ,I F\ND ?IS DESCRIPTION ( H[ ,HESSO GOT TO BE PRIME M9I/]3 EI<T MON?S AGO1 HE EXPLA9$ TO AN ,I,P,S REPORT]1 0,WE HAD SEV]AL MEET+S UNTIL A COMMITTEE ( #ih MEMB]S REPRES5T+ ! DIFF]5T COMMUNITIES WAS SET UP4 ,!Y W]E RESPONSIBLE = ELECT+ ! #be ( US ?AT MAKE UP ! GOV]NM5T TODAY40 ,H[ ?AT COMMUNITY ( #ih WAS *OS5 IS UNCLE>4 ,BUT LET'S GO BACK TO ,AMUDE4 

,TO FOLL[ UP1 ,I ASK$1 0,PEOPLE SAY ! ,P,Y,D IS DOM9ANT1 OPPRESSIVE4 ,:AT IS Y\R OP9ION80 ,HE ANSW]$3 0,! ,P,Y,D IS A ,KURDI% P>TY LIKE ANY P>TY H]E4 ,IT HAS SEATS 9 P>LIAM5T1 IT IS V]Y POPUL>1 BUT IT DOES NOT DOM9ATE40 

0,:Y IS !RE NO PICTURE ( ,OCALAN ON ! WALLS H]E80 ONE MY FELL[ DELEGATES ASK$1 REF]R+ TO ! CANTONAL GOV]NM5T BUILD+4 

0,9 ! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T WE REPRES5T ALL ! PEOPLE10 ,HESSO SAID1 0ALL ! S*OOLS & LEAD]S1 MANY S*OOLS1 NOT IMAGES4 ,! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T RESPECTS ! IDEAS ( ALL1 9CLUD+ ! ,5,K,S4 ,PEOPLE CAN HAVE PHOTOS ( ,OCALAN 9 !IR HOMES1 BUT NOT 9 GOV]NM5T40 

,! NEXT DAY1 :5 ,HESSO ADDRESS$ ! ,NEW ,WORLD ,SUMMIT 9 ,D]IK1 HE SPOKE ) FULL COMMITM5T TO ! REVOLUTION3 0,\R REVOLUTION IS ONE ( SACRIFICE & RESI/ANCE4 ,H]E WE HAVE WOM5'S EQUALITY1 9 ! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T & 9 WOM5'S COMMISSIONS4 ,\R REVOLUTION IS = ALL HUMANITY4 ,WE HAVE COMMISSIONS ON HUMAN RI<TS & RELIGION4 ,A NEW SOCIETY IS BE+ BUILT ON ! BLOOD ( \R M>TYRS4 ,! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T DEP5DS ON ! ,Y,P,G1 ,Y,P,J1 ,SOTORO1 ,ASAYIS--ALL PROTECT ,ROJAVA40 

,:AT /RATEGIES DO Y\ HAVE 9 ORD] TO R$UCE SU* P[]8 ,9 O!R WORDS1 :AT DEMOCRATIC GU>ANTEES CAN PREV5T ! 9JECTION ( TOP-D[N DECISIONS8 

,PEOPLE 9 ,ROJAVA SEEM$ V]Y AW>E ( ! DANG] ?AT A BOTTOM-UP SY/EM CAN TURN 9TO A TOP-D[N SY/EM4 ,?AT'S :AT HAPP5$1 AFT] ALL1 9 ,RUSSIA4 ,9 #a#i#a#g1 ! MULTI-TI]$ SY/EM ( SOVIETS1 OR C\NCILS1 ALL OV] ,RUSSIA1 WAS ORIG9ALLY SUPPOS$ TO C>RY P[] FROM ! BASE TO ! SUMMIT4 ,BUT ONCE ! ,BOL%EVIKS CAME TO P[]1 !Y W]E ABLE TO USE ?OSE V]Y 9/ITUTIONS AS CONDUITS = TOP-D[N P[]1 9DE$ = TOTALIT>IAN DOM9ATION4 

,Y\ ASK = GU>ANTEES--MY FRI5D1 WE >E TALK+ AB\T HUMAN SOCIETIES1 NOT ! LAWS ( PHYSICS4 ,!RE >E NO GU>ANTEES4 ,!RE IS NO MA!MATICAL =MULA ?AT SAYS1 IF !SE CONDITIONS >E MET1 !N ! DEMOCRACY IS GU>ANTE$ TO CONT9UE 9 ALL ITS PURITY4 

,BOOK*9 GAVE A LOT ( ?\<T TO ?IS PROBLEM1 & ONE ( HIS MO/ 9SI/5T PO9TS WAS ?AT ! SOCIETY MU/ 5SURE ! SEP>ATION ( POLICY & ADM9I/RATION4 ,ONLY ! CITIZ5S 9 ASSEMBLIES MAY MAKE DECISIONS ON MATT]S ( POLICY4 ,! ROLE ( ! CONF$]AL C\NCILS IS SOLELY TO ADM9I/] TO EXECUTE ?OSE DECISIONS4 ,AS SOON AS ! C\NCILS />T MAK+ POLICY DECISIONS1 Y\ NO LONG] HAVE A BOTTOM-UP FL[ ( P[]4 

,SECOND1 DELEGATES TO ! CONF$]AL C\NCILS MU/ BE M&AT$ & RECALLABLE4 ,!IR ONLY ROLE IS TO CONVEY ! POLICY DECISIONS MADE BY ! CITIZ5 ASSEMBLIES TO ! UPP] TI]S4 ,IF !Y FAIL TO DO ?AT1 ! PEOPLE CAN RECALL !M4 ,IF ! DELEGATES >E P]MITT$ TO GO BEYOND !IR M&ATE1 !N WE >E LOS+ ! BOTTOM-UP FL[ ( P[]4 

,9 ,AMUDE1 AS MY DELEGATION TALK$ TO ,HAKAM ,KHELLO1 ! ,P,Y,D HEAD ( ! CANTON'S LEGISLATIVE C\NCIL1 WE CONSID]$ IT FROM A PRACTICAL PO9T ( VIEW4 ,SUPPOSE ! V>I\S COMMUNES 9 A NEI<BORHOOD DON'T AGREE ON A C]TA9 ISSUE1 SOMEONE 9 MY GR\P ASK$1 & !IR V>I\S DELEGATES TO ! NEI<BORHOOD C\NCIL REFLECT ?AT DISAGREEM5T & CLA%4 ,H[ WAS ! ISSUE TO BE RESOLV$8 

,! NEI<BORHOOD C\NCIL W\LD HAVE TO DECIDE1 ,KHELLO EXPLA9$1 BUT ! F9AL DECISION C\LD BE MADE ALSO AT LEVEL ( ! CANTON4 

,:AT FACTORS TO MAKE ! DECISION8 WE ASK$4 

0,! DECISION HAS TO BE 9 ACCORD ) ! SOCIAL CONTRACT10 HE SAID1 REF]R+ ! WRITT5 CON/ITUTION BY :I* ! SOCIETY IS /RUCTUR$4 ,= EXAMPLE1 0FRE$OM ( WOM5 IS A /&>D PR9CIPLE !RE10 HE SAID1 & SO IS ECOLOGY4 0,WE ALSO REF] TO 9T]NATIONAL *>T]S = HUMAN RI<TS1 *ILDR5'S RI<TS4 ,!SE ORGANIZE \R LIFE40 

,I F\ND ?AT REASSUR+--TO HAVE ! SOCIETY'S BASIC PR9CIPLES 9 WRIT+ AT H&1 = REF]5CE 9 DECISION-MAK+4 ,:AT O!R WAYS DO Y\ TRY TO KEEP BOTTOM-UP FROM BECOM+ TOP-D[N8 ,I ASK$ ,KHELLO4 

0,! LOCAL COMMUNES >E CONC]N$ ONLY ) LOCAL ISSUES10 HE REPLI$4 0,! LEGISLATIVE C\NCIL DISCUSSES ISSUES RELAT$ TO ALL ! PEOPLE 9 ! CANTON40 

,YES1 ,I'D HE>D O!RS 9 ,ROJAVA 5UNCIATE ?IS PR9CIPLE AS WELL3 ?AT DECISIONS ON A GIV5 ISSUE >E MADE AT ! MO/ LOCAL LEVEL COMPET5T TO ADDRESS IT4 ,IF A COMMUNE IS COMPET5T TO H&LE AN ISSUE1 LIKE :]E TO LOCATE A S*OOL OR H[ LONG TO HAVE ! P[] RUNN+ & AT :AT H\RS1 !N IT DOES SO1 & ! UPP] LEVELS %\LD NOT 9T]F]E4 ,IT KEEPS ! 9/ITUTIONS CLOSE TO ! PEOPLE1 IT KEEPS PEOPLE 9 CONTROL ( ! ISSUES MO/ IMM$IATELY RELEVANT TO !M1 & IT KEEPS BUREAUCRACY FROM DEVELOP+4 ,IT'S A WAY = A DEMOCRACY TO /AY RESPONSIVE TO ! PEOPLE4 7,IT REM9DS ME A LITTLE ( ! PR9CIPLE ( 0SUBSIDI>ITY0 9 ,CA?OLIC SOCIAL ?\<T47 

,BUT CAN ?AT LOCAL FOCUS REALLY BE EFFECTIVE 9 KEEP+ P[] BOTTOM-UP8 ,I WOND]$4 ,AFT] ALL1 PEOPLE MEET+ 9 COMMUNES %\LD HAVE A SAY 9 CANTON-WIDE MATT]S AS WELL4 ,ISSUES ( W> & PEACE AFFECT EV]YONE1 = EXAMPLE--:Y %\LD ! /REET & NEI<BORHOOD MEET+S NOT HAVE A VOICE8 ,I WORRI$ ?AT REF]R+ ALL CANTON-WIDE MATT]S TO ! CANTON-WIDE C\NCILS C\LD CONC5TRATE P[] AT ! TOP4 

,! DAY AFT] ! DELEGATION MET ) ,KHELLO1 ,I GAVE A SPEE* AT ! ,NEW ,WORLD ,SUMMIT AB\T LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM OR DEMOCRATIC CONF$]ALISM4 ,& :5 ,I WAS F9I%$1 A H& W5T UP 9 ! FRONT R[1 & IT WAS ,KHELLO HIMSELF1 & HE ?REW MY [N QUE/ION BACK AT ME & MY FELL[ PANELI/1 ,CEZIRE'S REM>KABLE DEPUTY =EIGN M9I/] ,AM9E ,OSSE3 ,H[ TO KEEP BOTTOM-UP FROM BECOM+ TOP-D[N8 

,OSSE TALK$ AB\T ! IMPORTANCE ( COMMITM5T TO ! PR9CIPLES ( DEMOCRACY4 ,I AGRE$1 & M5TION$ ?AT ,BOOK*9 HAD (T5 SAID3 0,!RE IS NO SUB/ITUTE = CONSCI\SNESS40 ,PEOPLE MU/ BE COMMITT$ TO ! IDEAS & ! PROCESS & TO MAK+ IT WORK1 & !Y MU/ REMA9 VIGILANT4 ,IF PEOPLE >E NOT COMMITT$1 IF !Y >E NEGLECTFUL1 !N BY DEFAULT1 9 ! C\RSE ( ?+S1 P[] WILL BEG9 FL[+ FROM ! TOP-D[N4 

,I W\LD LIKE TO M5TION H]E ANO!R ?+ ?AT SEEMS CRUCIAL = 5SUR+ A BOTTOM-UP FL[ ( P[]1 & ?AT IS TRANSP>5CY4 ,ALL RECORDS & DECISIONS & VOT+ RESULTS MU/ BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE1 ALL ECONOMIC & O!R 9=MATION1 = USE 9 DECISION-MAK+4 ,EV]Y?+ MU/ BE TRANSP>5T4 ,:5 PEOPLE />T KEEP+ SECRETS FROM ! PEOPLE1 ! PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE PROP] DECISIONS1 & IF O!RS MAKE DECISIONS BEH9D ! SC5ES1 BAS$ ON SECRET 9=MATION1 !N WE NO LONG] HAVE AN ASSEMBLY DEMOCRACY4 

,ON ! SAME SUBJECT MY FRI5D ,ZAH] ,BAH] (F]S YET A CRUCIAL PO9T4 0,! ONLY HOPE = ,ROJAVA IS ,TEV-,DEM10 HE TOLD ME ONCE1 REF]R+ TO ! ORGANIZATION REPRES5T+ ! V>I\S GRASSROOTS ASSOCIATIONS1 ,ZAH] SAYS HE ?9KS ,TEV-,DEM IS ! VEHICLE = TRANSMITT+ ! WI%ES ( LOCAL GR\P TO ! CONF$]AL C\NCILS4 ,I ?9K HIS PO9T IS WELL TAK53 ,ROJAVA HAS MANY CIVIL SOCIETY ASSOCIATIONS1 & MU* ( ! /R5G? ( DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WILL LIE 9 !IR /R5G?4 

,DO ,I ?9K ?IS SY/EM 9 ,ROJAVA IS PURELY AS ,BOOK*9 5VISION$ IT8 ,NOT PURELY1 BUT P]HAPS ?AT MAY LIE BEYOND ! ABILITIES ( REAL HUMAN BE+S4 ,BUT ! PEOPLE >E WRE/L+ ) PROBLEMS ( IMPLEM5TATION ?AT ,BOOK*91 AS A !ORI/1 NEV] =ESAW1 & ,I ?9K ?AT EV5 ! MI/AKES ?AT PEOPLE 9 ,ROJAVA MI<T MAKE >E RELEVANT TO ! FUTURE IMPORTANCE ( !SE IDEAS4 

,APP>5TLY1 ! LEGISLATIVE & EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SOME TASKS1 & FREE ELECTIONS >E PRES5T 9 MO/ >EAS4 ,DON'T Y\ ?9K ?AT !RE IS AN EXTRALEGAL =CE ) A P[] ?AT CAN BLOCK ANY DECISIONS ?AT IT DOES NOT REG>D COMPATIBLE ) ITS B5EFITS8 

,BY 0EXTRALEGAL =CE10 ,I ?9K Y\ MU/ MEAN ! ,P,K,K4 ,( C\RSE1 MANY ( ! POLITICAL ACTORS 9 ,ROJAVA SP5T TIME 9 ! ,Q&IL ,M\NTA9S & HAVE ROOTS ) ! ,P,K,K1 BUT !Y >E AT PA9S TO D5Y ANY PRES5T ACTIVE CONNECTION4 ,Y\ SEEM TO BE ASK+ ME :AT GOES ON BEH9D ! SC5ES1 & ,I HAVE NO WAY ( KN[+ = SURE4 

,! ,AM]ICAN PR(ESSOR ( ,KURDI% /UDIES ,MI*AEL ,GUNT]1 9 HIS BOOK ,\T ( ,NO:]E3 ,! ,KURDS ( ,SYRIA 9 ,PEACE & ,W>1 SAYS HE ?9KS ! BOTTOM-UP SY/EM IS UNWORKABLE & ?AT ! ,P,K,K REALLY RUNS EV]Y?+ 9 ,ROJAVA BEH9D ! SC5ES4 0,9 REALITY1 ! ,P,K,K LEAD]%IP 9 ! ,Q&IL ,M\NTA9S & ,ABDULLAH ,OCALAN 9 ,IMRALI >E ! ONES :O REALLY RULE ?R\< V>I\S ,P,K,K_/,P,Y,D COMM&]S RESPONSIBLE = DIFF]5T >EAS40 ,:AT IS HIS EVID5CE = SU* A /ATEM5T8 0,AS ( ,SEPTEMB] #b#a#c1 ,%AH9 ,CELLO FROM ,KOBANE IS REPORT$ TO BE ! COMM&]-9-*IEF ( ALL MILIT>Y UNITS ( ! ,P,Y,D_/,Y,P,G 9 ,SYRIA4 ,=M]LY HE WAS A MEMB] ( ! ,P,K,K C5TRAL COMMITTEE & A LEAD+ OP]ATIVE 9 ,EUROPE40 

,YES1 ! PRES5CE ( =M] ,P,K,K MILIT>Y PEOPLE IS SUGGE/IVE4 ,BUT ! ,Y,P,G & ,Y,P,J >E P>T ( ! ,ROJAVA SY/EM2 !Y >E ACC\NTABLE TO ! DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOV]NM5T1 & !Y >E RUN DEMOCRATICALLY--!IR COMM&]S >E ELECT$ BY ! RANK-&-FILE4 

,/ILL1 = ! SAKE ( >GUM5T1 LET'S SUPPOSE IT'S TRUE ?AT ! ,P,K,K RUNS ! %[4 ,?AT W\LD BE A PROBLEM1 BECAUSE HI/ORY TELLS US ?AT W> CAN MAKE A SOCIETY MORE AU?ORIT>IAN1 ?R\< A COMM& /RUCTURE1 EV5 A SOCIETY COMMITT$ TO RADICAL DEMOCRACY4 ,MILIT>Y DECISIONS >E SURELY BE+ MADE EV]Y DAY4 ,& ! UPP] LEVELS ( ! ,CIZIRE ADM9I/RATION HAVE MANY RES\RCEFUL & EXP]I5C$ PEOPLE1 LIKE CO-GOV]NORS ,HADIYA ,Y\SEF & ,%EIKH ,HUMEYDI ,D5HAM1 & ! PRIME M9I/] ,HESSO & C\NCIL PRESID5T ,KHELLO1 & MORE--! UPP] /RATA SEEM QUITE POPUL\S1 D\BTLESS BECAUSE ( ! W>4 ,>E WE TO IMAG9E ?AT !Y OBEY ! BOTTOM-UP WI%ES ( ! CITIZ5S )\T EX]CIS+ !IR [N JUDGM5T8 ,:Y !N HAVE TAL5T$1 RES\RCEFUL PEOPLE AT ! TOP8 

,BUT !RE HIS NO?+ WRONG ) LEAD]%IP1 BY EXP]I5C$ PEOPLE1 AS LONG AS ?OSE LEAD]S >E ACC\NTABLE TO ! BASE4 ,IF ! BASE KEEPS REELECT+ !M1 !N ?AT IS DEMOCRACY TOO4 

,& HI/ORY TEA*ES US SOME?+ ELSE AB\T W>TIME3 ?AT IT CAN ALSO EXP& DEMOCRACY4 ,A SOCIETY AT W> IS ASK+ PEOPLE TO FI<T & P]HAPS DIE = IT4 ,?AT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE ( A SOCIETY )\T SOPHI/ICAT$ MILIT>Y TE*NOLOGY1 LIKE ,ROJAVA1 ONE ?AT RELIES ON SOLDI]S-AT->MS RA!R ?AN DRONES OR FI<T] JETS4 ,?9K ( ANCI5T ,A!NS--! HOPLITES1 ! >MY FI<T]S1 W]E ALSO ! CITIZ5S 9 ! ASSEMBLY1 ! EKKLESIA4 ,& AS MILIT>Y R[]S W]E NE$$ = ! NAVY1 = ! TRIREMES1 DEMOCRATIC P>TICIPATION WAS EXT5D$ TO ! L[] CLASSES4 

,SO SOCIETIES AT W>1 P>ADOXICALLY1 CONC$E OR EXP& DEMOCRATIC FEATURES4 ,IT'S A K9D ( SOCIAL CONTRACT4 ,! FACT ?AT ! SOCIETY ( ! ?REE CANTONS MU/ MOBILIZE ITS PEOPLE TO FI<T ! W> AGA9/ ,I,S IS ACTUALLY A =CE PULL+ 9 FAVOR ( DEMOCRACY4 ,! PEOPLE MU/ CONS5T TO ! W>1 P>TICIPATE 9 IT1 FI<T IT1 & BE WILL+ TO SACRIFICE !IR LIVES & ?OSE ( !IR FAMILY MEMB]S = IT4 

,SO REG>DLESS ( :E!R ! ,P,K,K IS OR IS NOT MAK+ MILIT>Y & O!R DECISIONS BEH9D ! SC5ES1 IT MU/ BE A PEOPLE'S W>1 & ! PEOPLE MU/ FI<T IT ?R\< !IR SELF-GOV]NM5T4 ,& 0! PEOPLE0 ( C\RSE 9CLUDES ,KURDS1 ,>ABS1 ,SYRIACS1 ,TURKM51 & ALL ! O!R GR\PS4 ,IF NO?+ ELSE = ! SAKE ( MOBILIZATION1 ! DEMOCRACY MU/ HAVE SOME REALITY4 

,:5 ,I WAS READ+ ! REPORTS ( Y\R LA/ TRIP1 ,I NOTIC$ 9 Y\R WRIT+ ?AT Y\ EXPRESS$ SOME FE>S OR CONC]N AB\T SOME ( ?+S Y\ SAW 9 ,ROJAVA4 ,I'D BE GLAD IF Y\ C\LD EXPLICITLY SAY :AT MAKES Y\ SO WORRI$4 

,Y\ MU/ BE REF]R+ TO MY >TICLE 0,! ,P>ADOXES ( A ,LIB]ATORY ,IDEOLOGY40 ,IDEOLOGY1 ,I WROTE1 IS A P[]FUL =CE 9 ,ROJAVA1 & ,I ?9K A COMMITM5T TO ,OCALAN'S IDEOLOGY WAS A MAJOR =CE 9 CREAT+ ! SOCIETY & ?AT IT CONT9UES TO HOLD IT TOGE!R1 & AT ! SAME TIME ! SOCIETY RE9=CES IT4 

,ROJAVA IS A SMALL SOCIETY1 CUT (F FROM ! RE/ ( ! WORLD BY ! EMB>GO1 BY ,TURKI% HO/ILITY1 & IS BESIEG$ BY W>4 ,! DEGREE ( COMMUNAL SOLID>ITY IS HI<1 & PEOPLE SEEM TO %>E ! SAME ASPIRATIONS4 ,PEOPLE DO SUPPORT & FI<T ! W>1 & AS ! ,Y,P,G & ,Y,P,J A*IEVE VICTORIES1 SUPPORT MU/ SURELY GR[4 ,?OSE VICTORIES JU/IFY ! DEMOCRACY & P]HAPS 5SURE ITS FUTURE4 

,BUT 9 EV]Y SOCIETY1 AS ,I M5TION$1 PEOPLE REACT DIFF]5TLY TO A RUL+ IDEOLOGY4 ,SOME >E V]Y 5?USIA/IC AB\T ! PREVAIL+ SY/EM1 SOME GO ALONG ) IT PASSIVELY1 SOME HAVE NO OP9ION1 & SOME WILL JU/ REBEL BECAUSE IT IS 9 !IR NATURE TO REBEL1 & SOME WILL PO9T \T REAL PROBLEMS ) ! WAY ?+S >E4 

,BOOK*9 US$ TO SAY ?AT 9 ANY POLITICAL GR\P OR SY/EM1 !RE WILL ALWAYS BE A LEFT1 A RI<T1 & A C5T]--EV5 UTOPIA WILL HAVE ?IS SPECTRUM4 ,!RE'S NO PO9T 9 TRY+ TO GET >\ND IT BY D5Y+ O!R P>TS ( ! POLITICAL SPECTRUM OR TRY+ TO ]ADICATE !M4 ,!RE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE :O DISAGREE ) ! PREVAIL+ CONS5SUS1 OR !RE %\LD BE1 & ! QUE/ION IS :AT DOES ! SOCIETY DO AB\T !M4 ,I ?9K EV]Y SOCIETY MU/ ALL[ = ! :OLE POLITICAL SPECTRUM1 & ?OSE :O HOLD PO9TS ( VIEW HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEF5D !IR POSITIONS4 

,I F9D IT ALL P>ADOXICAL1 BECAUSE IDEOLOGY IS NECESS>Y TO $UCATE & MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO MAKE A REVOLUTION1 BUT IT MU/ ALSO NOT BECOME OPPRESSIVE & 5=CE CON=MITY4 ,9 ! TW5TIE? C5TURY ! WORLD HAD A LOT ( EXP]I5CE ) SOCIETIES BUILT ON IDEOLOGY4 ,ONE ?+ WE ALL LE>N$ IS ?AT DISS5T IS VITAL TO A HEAL?Y POLITICAL ORD]4 ,ROJAVA WILL NE$ TO BE ABLE TO H&LE 9DIVIDUAL DIFF]5CES1 9CLUD+ POLITICAL DIFF]5CES4 

,BRITI% & ,G]MAN PLANES HAVE REA*$ ,SYRIAN SKIES4 ,?IS PROXY W> IS WORS5+ DAY BY DAY4 ,DO Y\ ?9K ?AT ! (FICIALS 9 ,ROJAVA CAN KEEP TO ! ?IRD PA? ?AT !Y CLAIM8 

,ORIG9ALLY ! ?IRD PA? WAS3 0NEI!R ,ASSAD NOR ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY_/,AL-,NUSRA-,I,S40 ,N[ ?AT ,RUSSIA HAS 5T]$ ! ,SYRIAN W>1 WE HAVE ANO!R ! ?IRD PA?--0,NEI!R ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES_/,BRITA9 NOR ,RUSSIA40 ,I ?9K IT'S WISE1 ESPECIALLY S9CE ! ,KURDS HAVE DEMON/RAT$ REPEAT$LY !IR 5ORM\S MILIT>Y IMPORTANCE AS GR\ND FI<T]S4 ,?AT GIVE !M LEV]AGE ) BO? SIDES1 ) BO? ! ,U,S,A & ,RUSSIA1 & !Y %\LD USE IT4 

,9 Y\R OP9ION1 IF ,MR4 ,BOOK*9 W]E ALIVE1 H[ W\LD HE ?9K AB\T ! EXP]I5CE ( PEOPLE 9 ,ROJAVA8 

,I ?9K HE W\LD BE TRAVEL+ TO ,ROJAVA :5EV] POSSIBLE & P>TICIPAT+ & (F]+ ADVICE & 9SPIRATION & ASSI/ANCE4 ,HE W\LD BE TRY+ TO HELP TO MAKE ! DEMOCRACY WORK4 ,HE W\LD BE TRAVEL+ >\ND ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/1 TRY+ TO SPREAD ! REVOLUTION BEYOND ! ,KURDI% >EAS1 ?R\<\T ! REGION4 ,& HE W\LD BE TALK+ AB\T IT TO ! \TSIDE WORLD1 TO :OEV] W\LD LI/54 ,?AT IS :AT ALL ( US :O HAVE VISIT$ !RE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#c1 #baf 3 ,?\<TS ON ,ROJAVA -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,APRIL #b#a1 #bb 3 ,?\<TS ON ,ROJAVA -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #d1 #bbb 3 ,?\<TS ON ,ROJAVA -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/