Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In July 2012, the Kurds living in northeastern Syria, led by the Syrian section of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), declared their autonomy in what became known as the Rojava Revolution. For the first time in their history the Syrian Kurds became masters over their own lives and destinies, and ruled their own homeland.
The Rojava Revolution at its peak was celebrated by some as a living example of anarchism in practice. It attracted the attention and raised the hopes of many radicalised youth on the left around the world.
Now, tragically, most of the gains of the revolution are being undone, under the blows of the Islamist regime in Syria. Although local councils were elected, and an armed militia composed of both men and women was formed, the revolution never proceeded to expropriate the landlords and capitalists.
Fred Weston will explain how all this unfolded, analysing how the ideas of the leader of the PKK – and its offshoot in Syria – Abdullah Öcalan, contributed to the stalling, and subsequent defeat, of the revolution. We need to learn from this experience and draw out the lessons for revolutionary communists.
In July 2012, the Kurds living in northeastern Syria, led by the Syrian section of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), declared their autonomy in what became known as the Rojava Revolution. For the first time in their history the Syrian Kurds became masters over their own lives and destinies, and ruled their own homeland.
The Rojava Revolution at its peak was celebrated by some as a living example of anarchism in practice. It attracted the attention and raised the hopes of many radicalised youth on the left around the world.
Now, tragically, most of the gains of the revolution are being undone, under the blows of the Islamist regime in Syria. Although local councils were elected, and an armed militia composed of both men and women was formed, the revolution never proceeded to expropriate the landlords and capitalists.
Fred Weston will explain how all this unfolded, analysing how the ideas of the leader of the PKK – and its offshoot in Syria – Abdullah Öcalan, contributed to the stalling, and subsequent defeat, of the revolution. We need to learn from this experience and draw out the lessons for revolutionary communists.
