Co-operative Economy in Rojava and Bakur

Workers’ Co-ops in the Wan Region of Bakur

Co-ops in Bakur

by Eliza Egret and Tom Anderson. Published in the Corporate Watch book, Struggles for Autonomy in Kurdistan, May 2016

In June 2015 we visited several co-operatives in the Wan region (Van in Turkish). They were set up with the support of people from the regional Economic Commission ofthe Democratic Society…

Democratic Confederalism in Kurdistan

Co-operative Economy in Bakur

A commune meeting in Amude in Rojava's Cizîrê canton, November 2015

By Tom Anderson and Eliza Egret. First published on Corporate Watch on 18 April 2016

The Kurdish region is currently undergoing a transformation. People are organising themselves in grassroots people’s assemblies and co-operatives, declaring their autonomy from the state and their wish for real democracy. Feminist…

Democratic Economy Conference in Wan

Co-operative Economy in Bakur

By Azize Aslan. Translated from Turkish. Published by the Institute for Social, Political and Economic Studies

The Democratic Economy Conference convened in 8-9 November in Wan, with the slogan ‘Let us communalize our land, water and energy; let us build a democratic and free life’. In the…

The Greenhouse Project

Co-ops in Rojava

By Jo Magpie

“If we don’t give this to the society then we’re going to be just like a company. Then we’re not working for Rojava, we’re working for ourselves.” We visited Bîstanên Rojava…

Women’s co-operatives in Rojava

Co-operative Economy in Rojava

By Rahila Gupta

Women’s co-operatives: Qamişlo, Rojava The following article is based on my trip to Rojava in March 2016 where I interviewed Delal Afrin, Head of the Women’s Economic Committee of Kongira Star…

Wan Market

Co-ops in Bakur

Originally published in Turkish on 23 December 2015 on Meydan

Opposed to the economy controlled by the state and corporations, the number of cooperatives where relations of production and consumption are formed without intermediaries is on the rise. Recently, these cooperatives…

Largest co-operative opens in Cizirê canton

Co-ops in Rojava

First published in Turkish on Hawar News Agency on 26 November 2015

QAMIŞLO – The economic activities of the Cizire canton continue with the opening of the largest cooperative. The United People’s Cooperative (Birleşik Halk Kooperatifi), for which 3 thousand people have registered…

“We’re removing the rich-poor divide with our co-operatives”

Co-operative Economy in Rojava

First published in Turkish on ANF News on 12 January 2016

Xalıd Şêxo, a manager of the Center for the Economy of Social Development in Dirbêsiyê‎, says “The aim of our cooperatives is to prevent internal and external powers from sowing seeds…

The functions of the co-operative

Co-operative Economy in Bakur

By Yusuf Gürsucu. This article originally appeared in Turkish on Özgür Gündem on 1 December 2015

Within our current predicament it is possible to resist and fight back against monopolies with the cooperatives. In their absence, it is not possible for producers to maintain their existence, or…

Co-operatives against the robbers: an interview with Çiftçi-Sen

Co-operative Economy in Bakur

Originally published in Turkish in Meydan on 7 September 2013

A struggle is being organized against the robbers, or the capitalist firms, that are between the producers and the consumers, in a world where industrialized production in agriculture has become commonplace,…

The Women’s Co-operatives of Rojava Have Made Significant Advances

Co-ops in Rojava

Originally published in Turkish on Hawar News Agency on 15 July 2015

DÊRIK – The Women’s Agricultural Cooperative was founded by the women of Derik at the end of 2014 with the aim of improving social life, against the patriarchal system. The Women’s…

Ownership and equality in northern Syria

Co-operative Economy in Rojava

By Rebecca Harvey. This article appeared on Co-operative News on 9 March 2016

Ownership in a warzone is complicated idea. This is especially true in northern Syria, where internal conflict has escalated to mass movement of people, border disputes and international military involvement. But…