The Communes of Rojava Six Years On: Towards Many Democracies of Neighbors

Six years after making "The Communes of Rojava" (2018), and in the face of some of the most dire attacks yet faced by the pluralist, women-led, radically democratic project in North and East Syria, I am releasing this “sequel.” Though deeply inspired by the Rojava Revolution, this video is not about Syria directly. It is about America. For the last six years, I have been trying my best to build practical examples of grassroots, neighbor-powered democracy, inspired by Rojava, on blocks and in apartment buildings in various states in the US. Here I share the lessons I’ve learned, models that have inspired me, and point to some very practical steps to organize a small-sized, face-to-face forum of neighbors on your block to discuss, dream, decide, and act together, ie. neighborocracy, or grassroots governance from below. This video covers topics like neighboring, sociocracy, neighborocracy, Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), and Abdullah Ocalan’s theories of democratic nation, democratic modernity, democratic autonomy, and democratic confederalism. * I do not own any of the background footage or other video clips used in creating this video. Links to original videos and music can be found in the following google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZRCXYNp1J9tuiaiBBWNKiNjFQap5yRA_72IUXmBoM1w/edit?usp=sharing. ** The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer. Special thanks goes out to the friends in North and East Syria, particularly the Civil Diplomacy Center. I am forever grateful to Kathy Sipple for connecting me to Father Edwin John, Swarnalakshmi Ravi, Joseph Rathinam, and the whole Neighborocracy movement. Further Reading/Viewing Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES)/Rojava: Communes of Rojava: A Model In Societal Self-Direction: https://youtu.be/cDnenjIdnnE?si=bjrB424xfiHkQLRQ Donate to relief in North and East Syria: heyvasor.com/en Explainer: Participatory Governance in the Social Contract of North and East Syria: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r2KPJNGBJckhIzJW0_qEq7Z8ahUzYhej9uLGbcrVXyY/edit?usp=sharing Explainer: Communes: https://rojavainformationcenter.org/2020/05/explainer-communes-the-building-block-of-democratic-confederalism/ Latest news: https://rojavainformationcenter.org/ Civil Diplomacy Center of North and East Syria (contacts with civil society and DAANES): https://nescivildiplomacy.com/ Chai by Chai, Village by Village, the Work Goes On: https://mesopotamia.coop/chai-by-chai-village-by-village-the-work-goes-on/ The Art of Freedom by Havin Guneser: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1083 Neighboring: The Neighboring Movement and the 8 Front Doors Challenge: neighboringmovement.org Neighborocracy and Sociocracy: Power to the Children documentary on Neighborhood Children’s Parliaments (NCPs): https://www.powertothechildren-film.com/ Neighborocracy podcast interview https://scottishcommunitiesclimateactionnetwork.podbean.com/e/neigborocracy-an-indian-success-in-giving-real-voice-to-the-people/ Weaving Global Governance From Below: https://www.sociocracyforall.org/childrens-parliaments-sociocracy-case-study/ Sociocracy for All: www.sociocracyforall.org School Circles film: https://schoolcirclesfilm.com/ Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): ABCD Institute: https://resources.depaul.edu/abcd-institute/Pages/default.aspx The Connected Community by John McKnight and Cormac Russell: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714103/the-connected-community-by-john-mcknight-and-cormac-russell/