„Democracy only there grows, where there is a

popular need of the masses.

It emerges as the reaction against the voracity of State, as a necessary defense of the grass-­root institutions, self­-organized economical and cultural interests of the people against bureaucracy.”

Edward Abramowski

We weren’t able to go to Kobane, to bring you firsthand stories from the front. We could only tell you the story of the siege, based on relations of others, using our knowledge and analytical skills. Today, when Kobane is free and ISIS in retreat, it is about time for you to learn how come that Rojava Autonomy emerged, what are its roots

and what ideology grows out of them. It is important, as the ideals of Rojava – ideals of the whole humanity – were the reason for the defenders of Kobane to be so tough and invincible.

It started from the videoclips on Youtube, showing girls with guns. Then stories about the heroic battles with ISIS. They brought a lot of emotions, but also questions: what is behind them, what drives them?

Then we learned not only that 40% of Rojava armed forces are female warriors. We learned about totally separate female army – YPJ. About mandatory co­presidence on every level (except for female organizations). How could it be possible in the region which – in the eyes of the Europeans – is a stronghold of patriarchy? What is that famous Democratic Confederalism which made Rojava possible? What marvelous visions are needed to transgress “the one and the only”

reality of the patriarchal, capitalist nation­-state? We discussed it a lot within FreeLab and outside and we decided to publish a selection of texts to help our Readers to understand Rojava better – and also to look around them in a new way.

We decided to bring the ideals of Rojava closer to the European reader. To show how the Kurdish resistance movement emerged. How it transformed from a typical marxist guerilla to the standard of quite new ideals – ideals of a cooperative society. And how – out of this very movement – the Revolution of Women bloomed, effectively creating Rojava Autonomy.

We also try to show how the thoughts of Murray Bookchin, who created and developed the libertarian municipalism movement, found practical implementations in the mountains of Kurdistan. Obvious thought is also that it can be implemented in Poland and Europe even more easily. That is why we asked dr Krzysztof Nawratek to show Rojava in the context of current European political thinking.

We believe deeply that democratic confederalism, as it is implemented in Rojava, is important for the whole Europe. It is an important example of implementation of a just, self­governing political system in an extremely hostile surrounding. American societies have their own example of this kind – EZLN “benevolent junta” in Chiapas, Mexico.

We, in Europe, we have Rojava and their struggle for democratic confederalism.

If we manage to trigger a discussion on it and to bring it closer to the popular perception, our mission will be accomplished.

When we published first Polish selection of articles about Rojava, I received several requests to provide English edition as well.It was not really a big work — only one article was originally written in Polish — but really a great pleasure.

That was a bit of a challenge, however, as we have no native speaker to do the proof reading for us, but I count on your help and friendly criticism. Please report all mistakes here and we shall correct them in the next version.

Enjoy!