Exploring leader’s ideas to overcome challenges and promote justice

In the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods of Aleppo, in-depth discussions are taking place around the fifth volume of Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s works, titled “The Kurdish Issue and the Democratic Nation Solution,” where participants critique capitalist modernity and its impact on societal structures and ethical principles.

The discussions began on May 15, with daily intensive reading sessions bringing together members of local councils, communes, civil institutions, and political parties, aiming to absorb the intellectual propositions in this volume. The reading sessions are held in three main centers: the Martyr Jengiz Council in Ashrafiyeh, the Martyr Robar Qamishlo Council in the western part of Sheikh Maqsoud, and the Martyr Kelhat Council in its eastern part. Over five hours daily, participants read passages from the volume, followed by in-depth discussions based on a critical analysis of lived realities. The participants view capitalist modernity as having played a fundamental role in destabilizing societal traditions and imposing effective control that contributes to the disintegration of societal structures.

The Role of Women in Confronting Modernity

Women occupied a central focus in the discussions, with participants noting that modernity reduced their role, turning them into mere commodities after they were symbols of life and production in natural societies. They emphasized that establishing a balanced democratic nation requires intellectual and political struggle that transcends the stereotypical concepts imposed by capitalism, stressing the importance of countering marginalization attempts and restoring women’s active role in building societies.

The discussions also addressed the relationship between the nation-state and the economy, pointing out that the nation-state has become a tool of capitalist modernity to dominate economic life and strip societies of their ability to determine their own destiny. Participants assert that this relationship is a key factor hindering social justice, necessitating the dismantling of this system and the creation of a more autonomous societal economy.

Reading to Understand Reality and Overcome Crises

Ibrahim Reihani, a participant in the reading session at the Martyr Kelhat Council, says the goal of these sessions is not limited to theoretical review but aims to understand the complexities of reality and find solutions based on collective awareness and free thought. He notes that the volume contains profound analyses, which, though complex, reflect fundamental issues rooted in human history.

Issa Mustafa, an administrator at the training office in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, confirms that the collective reading of Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s defenses is part of training and organization efforts to reinforce values that preserve individual dignity and protect societies from disintegration. He views the volume as offering substantive solutions to the Kurdish issue, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical and cultural dimensions of this struggle in confronting attempts at cultural genocide.

These intellectual discussions form part of a broader social movement seeking to build an ethical-political society capable of facing contemporary challenges, rooted in the Democratic Nation project as a comprehensive alternative to centralized systems and the values imposed by capitalist modernity. Through these sessions, participants aim to formulate a new vision that enhances community autonomy and entrenches the values of justice and freedom.

a.k

ANHA