In this episode, we’re joined by Isabella, an internationalist who has been involved in multiple institutions of the Rojavan Revolution and is currently on the ground in Syria. Together, we trace her personal journey into the revolution and explore the political, social, and feminist structures that have sustained Rojava through years of war, pressure, and transformation.
We discuss the foundations of the Rojavan Revolution and DAANES, the role of Mala Jin, Jinwar, and Jineology, and the development of Kongra Star as the vanguard of the women’s revolution. Isabella shares insights into how revolutionary structures endure, how patriarchal attitudes are challenged in practice, and what strategies have proven effective over time.
The conversation also turns to the present moment: the media ecosystem in Rojava, the role of democratic confederalism, current conditions on the ground, and the evolving political landscape involving the Syrian Transitional Government, DAANES, and the SDF. We close with reflections on lessons from the Kurdish Freedom Movement and where listeners can go to stay informed.
02:59 — Who Is Isabella
04:04 — What Was Isabella’s Youth Like
04:54 — What Is the Rojavan Revolution & DAANES
10:25 — Mala Jin Introduced
11:35 — Jinwar Introduced
14:38 — Introduction to Jineology
19:53 — Jineology as Structure & Publication
23:24 — Kongra Star as the Vanguard of the Women’s Revolution
27:11 — How Kongra Star Started
27:22 — What Structures Have Helped the Revolution Survive / How Do You Get Men to Listen?
31:54 — Strategies for Shifting Patriarchal Attitudes
35:05 — The Media Ecosystem in Rojava
38:00 — How Independent Media Is Being Received
40:32 — Democratic Confederalism in the Region
48:22 — Current Conditions in Rojava
55:56 — The Syrian Transitional Government & Its Relation to Syria and Kurdistan
60:00 — DAANES / SDF Narratives & Conditions Under the Assad Regime
01:03:09 — Response to STG Decree on Kurdish Rights & Political Demands of DAANES/SDF
01:04:23 — Final Reflections & Lessons from the Kurdish Freedom Movement
01:07:00 — Where to Stay Informed
The Women’s War (iHeartRadio)
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-womens-war-59464911/
(Includes reporting on Jinwar and the women’s revolution in Rojava)
Kongra Star (Women’s Movement)
https://kongra-star.org/eng/homepage/
Mala Jin (Women’s Houses)
https://kongra-star.org/eng/mala-jin/
Jinwar – Women’s Village
https://mesopotamia.coop/coops/jinwar/
Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd)
https://heyvasor.com/en/
Rojava Information Center
https://rojavainformationcenter.org/
Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy and Women’s Liberation
https://www.plutobooks.com/product/revolution-in-rojava/
Rojava: Revolution, War and the Future of Syria’s Kurds
https://pmpress.org.uk/product/rojava-revolution-war-and-the-future-of-syrias-kurds/
Rojava in Focus (AK Press)
https://www.akpress.org/rojava-in-focus.html
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – Twitter/X
https://twitter.com/SDF_Syria
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