University of Turin hosts symposium on Syria with participation from Kobani University

First Day Sessions

The first day of the symposium began this morning at the University of Turin, bringing together academics, researchers, and the University of Kobani delegation.

The first session, chaired by Roberta Aluffi from the University of Turin, addressed several intellectual and legal topics, including:

“On the Meaning of Revolution: Revolutionary Memory, Legal Transformations, and the Challenges of the Nation-State.”

“Syria Through Marginalized Voices, Memory, and the Unfinished Revolution,” presented by Zaina Erhaim.

“What Kind of State? The Legal Essence of Institutional Transition,” by Abdulhai Sayed.

“Rojava and the Democratic Republic in the Context of Syria’s Transitional Presidential System,” by Jean-François Kerléo.

The second session, titled “The Political and Environmental Economy of Transition,” was chaired by Luca Mastrosimone and examined issues related to integration into Western markets and the reintegration of North and East Syria. Presentations included:

“The Syrian Economy in Transition: Domestic and International Challenges,” by researcher Jihad Yazigi.

“The State versus the Communes of Rojava: The Process of Capitalist Consolidation in Syria,” by Aziza Aslan Mahmoud.

“Marginalized Inequalities in Syria: Extractivism, Slow Violence, and Prospects for a Peaceful Environment in Rojava,” by Pinar Dengiz.

The third session, titled “Conflicting Political Perspectives on Religion, Gender, and Nation: How Can the Apparently Irreconcilable Be Reconciled?”, was chaired by Miriam Macchi and featured several presentations, including:

“Toward a Dialogical Secularism for Post-Assad Syria,” by Sari Hanafi.

“Sweida Under Pressure: Cohesion, Local Authority, and Survival Politics in Southern Syria,” by Mazen Azzi.

“The Case of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) During Syria’s Military Power Transition: A Field Perspective,” by Valeria Mongelli.

Roundtable and Regional Discussions

The symposium also featured a roundtable discussion titled “What Do Developments in Syria Reveal About the Region and the World Today?”, with the participation of Hamit Bozarslan, Zaina Erhaim, Patrick Haenni, and Sari Hanafi. Participants discussed the regional and international dimensions of the ongoing transformations in Syria.

Special Statement on the Women’s Protection Units

In a special statement to ANHA agency, Italian journalist Valeria Mongelli, who presented on “The Situation of the Women’s Protection Units During Syria’s Military Power Transition: A Field Perspective,” said that over the past year she has closely followed developments in the transfer of power process in North and East Syria, focusing particularly on the issue of integrating the Women’s Protection Units into the Syrian army.

She explained that she conducted a series of interviews with fighters, commanders, and public policy experts, noting that the integration issue raises numerous questions concerning self-administration, women’s struggle, political autonomy, as well as economic and security issues in Rojava.

Mongelli added that the findings from her field interviews indicate that the current negotiation process does not appear sufficient to address these concerns. At the same time, she stressed that the experience of the Women’s Protection Units extends beyond the region and holds special significance for women around the world. She expressed hope that the coming period would witness more positive developments.

Symposium Continues

The international symposium is scheduled to continue on Friday. Sherfan Muslim, Co-President of the University of Kobani, is expected to deliver a lecture as part of the second day’s program.

ANHA