These are...not optimistic times for most Americans. Across the world, the dangers of climate change and the terror of creeping authoritarianism present an increasing danger to all of us. After covering this degeneration for four years, Robert Evans went looking for hope. He found it in the unlikeliest of places: Northeast Syria, in a region known as Rojava that’s become host to a feminist, anti-authoritarian revolution.

When you’ve heard about these folks in the mainstream media, they’re usually just described as the “Syrian Kurds”, and credited with beating ISIS. They did, in fact, beat ISIS. But their military successes were just part of the story. In The Women’s War, Robert will introduce listeners to dozens of men and women fighting a war for the future of the human soul.

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What would you do if the government collapsed? Over the last eight years, the men and women of North-East Syria have had a chance to answer that question for themselves. Using the political theories of an American anarchist and a Kurdish terrorist, they've built a feminist oasis in the middle of the world's most brutal war.

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

Footnotes:

1. Bella Ciao: A “Kurdish Anthem” Made in Italy, Has Become a Global Sensation
2. The PKK: Coming Down from the Mountains (Rebels)
3. Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy and Women's Liberation in Syrian Kurdistan

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Robert Evans and Jake Hanrahan are ready to enter Rojava, but first they have to navigate the maze of Iraqi bureaucracy. When they cross the border, they learn that everything may not be as rosy as it sounded from the outside

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

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How does law and order work in a system based on anarchist political theory? In this episode, Robert visits a court for ISIS prisoners and talks to one of the top Judges in Rojava.

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

Episode Transcript: https://www.thewomenswar.com/

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In Rojava, the desire to build a society free of misogyny has led to the creation of an entire village just for women. From this place, Jinwar, they seek to heal themselves and then their society.

Episode Transcript: https://www.thewomenswar.com/

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

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In this episode, we visit an all-women farming commune and a group of grandmas who have taken the task of local law enforcement into their own hands.

Episode Transcript: https://www.thewomenswar.com/

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

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In this episode, we travel to the city of Raqqa to meet the male and female co-presidents in charge of its defense and embed with a mixed-gender military unit in the streets of the Islamic State's former world headquarters.

Episode Transcript: https://www.thewomenswar.com/

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

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In this episode, we visit a training base for Rojava's all-female militia, and talk to young soldiers about their transition from life as slaves of ISIS, to armed revolutionaries fighting for their freedom.

Episode Transcript: https://www.thewomenswar.com/

Music: "Bella Ciao" by Astronautalis (feat. Subp Yao & Rickolus)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.