Self-Management of People
Negin Sheikholeslami Vatani
26 June 2024
During a trip to Kurdistan and conversations with political activists, various perspectives on the future of the democratic movement emerged. New ideas are flourishing, mainly reflected in the theoretical and practical insights of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). Here is a summary of the ideas of its joint leadership, Peyman Vian and Amir Karimi, related to achieving democracy in Iran.
Global Tensions and the Middle East
The tensions in the Middle East are part of the broader global tensions, which could be called the Third World War. The hegemonic forces of capitalist modernity are vying for dominance in the 21st century, leading to far-reaching consequences. Significant changes comparable to those brought about by the First World War are expected. The Middle East is a crucial center of these changes.
The United States and its allies have significantly impacted the Middle East through interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan and their influence on the Arab Spring. Now, attention turns to Iran. Nation-states in the region, products of the 20th century, resist these changes with support from governments like Russia and China. Amidst this conflict, another powerful yet less discussed side emerges: the people, nations, communities, and identities within the region. They demand change.
The Independent Front for Change
While foreign interventions have led to political changes, they rarely result in true democracy and often cause disastrous outcomes, as seen in Afghanistan and Iraq. Opposition parties often paint a rosy picture of foreign interventions, but the resulting governments are frequently as corrupt and tyrannical as their predecessors. People are forced to choose between two poor options.
The Struggle for Self-Management
People who resist and endure high costs face disappointing results. With their diverse identities, these individuals can form independent organizations and chart their paths, creating alternative management systems. We strive for such organizations, aiming to build a democratic society that thinks and acts independently.
The Third Line of Political Action
This third line represents the political action or practice of a democratic society and its builders. A democratic society recognizes its interests, prioritizing self-management over participating in power transfers. This is especially clear in the case of Iran, highlighted by the Women, Life, Freedom revolution, which showed that the desired changes are not about “regime change.”
Despite its conflicts with the global capitalist system, the Islamic Republic is part of it. Western countries, including the US and Europe, aim to fully integrate the Islamic Republic into the world system, making changes that do not threaten the regime’s survival. They lack alternative solutions and fear popular alternatives.
The Women, Life, Freedom Revolution
This revolution revealed that Western governments prefer the current regime despite global support for the popular movement. The conflict between capitalist modernity and Iranian societies’ demands is more significant than that with the Islamic Republic. The Iranian opposition acts as a pressure tool for the West, viewing social movements instrumentally. The democratic demands of the Women, Life, Freedom revolution oppose both the Islamic Republic and the traditional opposition’s goals. This revolution has highlighted a distinct opposition and a third front.
Conflict in Iraq and Kurdistan
Turkey and Iran have turned Iraq and the Kurdistan Region into battlegrounds for their conflicts. Daily air attacks, espionage, assassinations of opposition figures, political threats, and the killing of innocents are common occurrences. The Kurdistan Regional and Iraqi governments appear to have conceded to Iran and Turkey’s demands. Many Kurdish party camps have been closed and inspected, with Kurdish parties reduced to refugee status.
Proxy wars continue in the region, and tensions between Iran and Israel are escalating towards direct conflict. In these challenging conditions, continuing popular and democratic struggles requires new assessments, solutions, and risk-taking. The extensive participation of Kurdish women and people in activities such as International Women’s Day and Nowruz demonstrates their determination to continue the revolution.
Political Forces Must Act Against Patriarchal Structures
Joint leadership of men and women in political organizations is a crucial first step. The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) exemplifies this approach, implementing joint leadership and gender equality across all its divisions. This inclusion enhances management efficiency but is only part of the solution. Legal equality alone does not address the core issue. Intra-organizational struggles against patriarchy and power-seeking require removing hierarchical barriers for women. Accepting women’s will must become a cultural norm among men.
The “Women, Life, Freedom” movement is more than a temporary uprising; it is a profound revolution. This movement has profoundly and irreversibly impacted Iranian communities’ mental and cultural fabric, marking the transition to democracy. It represents an evolutionary revolution beyond the insurrectionist revolutions of the 20th century. Middle Eastern society is breaking through the old, oppressive power structures, with women as the main force. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s all-out war against women stems from fear. Women’s empowerment targets the societal power structures that sustain government dominance, aiming to eradicate patriarchy, old ageism, nationalism, and political Islam. This revolutionary process must continue.
One-Sided Relationships of Traditional Political Organizations
Traditional political organizations and opposition groups of the Islamic Republic often maintain a one-sided, top-down relationship with the people, positioning themselves as essential and authoritative. They see themselves as the determining power, expecting the masses to follow their lead without understanding or addressing the people’s wishes, thoughts, and revolutionary spirit. During the “Women, Life, Freedom” revolution, many opposition organizations tried to impose their ideas and goals rather than analyzing and understanding the movement. This often contradicted the revolution’s core philosophy of “Woman, Life, Freedom,” which was against patriarchy, domination, and nationalism.
Opposition forces focus more on the future governance of Iran than on its political and social future. They aim to gain power by leveraging the people’s revolution, but their ultimate goal is to seize control. But politics must align with the principles of the “Women, Life, Freedom” revolution, opposing monopolization, self-aggrandizement, denial of ethnic rights and identities, and centralist nationalism. Policies should be inclusive and pluralistic, supporting the coexistence of societies and nations while opposing totalitarianism. A democratic solution for the Kurds and other ethnic minorities in Iran is crucial for transitioning to democracy. Kurds should achieve legitimate self-governance, paving the way for a democratic Iran.
Building a Democratic Nation
A democratic society with a multi-dimensional identity can resolve the center-periphery conflict. Nationalism, rooted in the nation-state concept, fails to solve problems and instead serves the upper classes, spreading hatred and leading to widespread conflict. The “Women, Life, Freedom” revolution united people through democratic solidarity, while nationalism of the central government caused division. The departure of the Islamic Republic will not automatically lead to a democratic and ecologically friendly society, which requires an ongoing evolutionary process. Social revolution is not merely the government’s fall but requires a continuous struggle for freedom and democracy at all societal levels. Freedom-loving organizations must be active in all these areas, forming the foundation for popular self-management, social cooperatives, women’s organizations, youth organizations, and ecological assemblies.
