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The New World Embassy The New World Embassy: Rojava is a temporary embassy in the Oslo City Hall, which represents, through cultural means, the ideals of “stateless democracy” developed by the communities of the autonomous region of Rojava, northern Syria. The embassy consists of a large-scale oval shaped architectural structure, designed as an “ideological planetarium.” The embassy will operate for two consecutive days, bringing representatives from Rojava together with inter- national politicians, diplomats, academics, journalists, students, and artists. Through open deliberation and public discussion the New World Embassy: Rojava propos- es a platform to build new transnational relationships and explore alternative models of people’s diplomacy. This includes an analysis of the history, ideals, and implemen- tation of stateless democracy; of the successes of Rojava in building a new civil society in a war-torn region; and finally the alternative that Rojava proposes in order to confront the crises of democracy seen on a global scale. The New World Embassy: Rojava is a The project is part of the Oslo collaboration between the Democratic Architecture Triennale 2016, After Self-Administration of Rojava and Belonging: A Triennale In Residence, Studio Jonas Staal. On Residence and the Ways We Stay in Transit, and funded and co-produced by KORO, Public Art Norway / URO. Saturday November 26 Sunday November 27 Panel I — History & Politics 13:00 — 19:00 13:00 — 19:00 Saturday November 26 13:00 - 15:30 13:00 13:00 This opening panel focuses on the history of the Kurdish • Welcome by Marianne Borgen • Welcome by Refik Gefur and Revolutionary Movement, the recent history of Kurdistan, and (Mayor of Oslo) Seher Aydar in particular the situation in Rojava followingthe declaration of • Welcome by Seher Aydar and Refik • Welcome by Hanna Dencik Petersson autonomy in 2012. It will address the fight against the Assad Gefur (Kurdish Communities of Oslo) (Oslo Architecture Triennale, OAT) regime and jihadist organizations such as the Islamic State, and • Introduction by Jonas Staal (Artist and • Introduction by Jonas Staal the implementation of the Rojavan model of democratic confed- founder of the New World Summit) eralism. How and why was the idea of a “democracy without a 13:30 state”—a stateless democracy—as Kurdish revolutionary Abdullah 13:40 Keynote by Co-Ambassador Öcalan described it, developed in the first place? In what way has Keynote by Co-Ambassador Aldar Xalîl (Movement for a Democratic this stateless democracy been able to unify the different peoples Asya Abdullah (Co-Chair Society, Tev-Dem) in the Rojava region, and how should we understand its day-to- Democratic Union Party, PYD) day practice? 13:55 14:05 Short break (10 min.) Panel II — Culture & Self-Determination Short break (10 min.) Saturday November 26 14:05 16:30 - 19:00 14:15 Panel III — Conflict & Diplomacy Panel I — History & Politics Chaired by Radha D’Souza (University of In Rojava, the struggle for autonomy is simultaneously an armed Chaired by Joost Jongerden Westminster) struggle and a cultural struggle. In the case of the Kurdish strug- (University of Wageningen) gle, Kurdish cultural identity was long denied and suppressed. • Aldar Xalîl Art and culture became a means of resistance; through clandes- • Asya Abdullah, • Runar Myrnes Balto (Political advisor to tine poetry, literature, and music, a Kurdish identity has been • Macer Gifford (People’s the Sámi Parliament) kept alive. Since the start of the Rojava Revolution in 2012, art and Protection Units, YPG) • Sana Soleman Elmansouri (World culture have gained a central role for all peoples in expressing and • Bassam Said Ishak Amazigh Congress) celebrating the cultural plurality of Rojava while rejecting homog- (Syriac National Council) • Hanne Sophie Greve (Judge at enous nation-state policies. What is the role of art and culture in • Kariane Westrheim the Gulating High Court of Western imagining new models of democracy? And how does the cultural (University of Bergen) Norway, and former judge at the European struggle of Rojava relate to other struggles, from the struggle Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg) of the Kel Tamasheq (Tuareg) peoples in the Sahara and Sahel 15:30 regions to civil uprisings in the form of the Occupy movement Break (1 hour) 15:30 and Black Lives Matter in the United States? Break (1 hour) 16:30 Panel III — Conflict & Diplomacy • Welcome by Refik Gefur 16:30 Sunday November 27 and Seher Aydar Welcome by KORO Public Art Norway/ URO 13:00 - 15:30 • Welcome by Marina Otero (After Belonging Agency) 16:50 Rojava has developed its own unique model of democratic Keynote by Co-Ambassador Salih Muslim confederalism—also known as stateless democracy. The Rojava 16:50 (Co-Chair Democratic Union Party, PYD) embassy in this light should be considered as a stateless embas- Keynote by Co-Ambassador sy: not aimed solely at establishing relations between states, but Sînem Mohammed (Democratic 17:15 rather between peoples. Norway has led peace negotiations relat- Self-Administration of Rojava) Short break (10 min.) ing to the struggles for self-determination in Palestine, Colombia, and the Philippines. How does the future of people’s diplomacy 17:20 17:25 as proposed by Rojava relate to these endeavors? And how do Short break (10 min.) Panel IV — Solidarity other stateless movements, such as that of the Sámi and Amazigh & Transdemocracy peoples, relate to the ideal of stateless diplomacy? 17:30 Chaired by Radha D’Souza Panel II — Culture Panel IV — Solidarity & Transdemocracy & Self-Determination • Salih Muslim Sunday November 27 Chaired by Maria Hlavajova (BAK, • Kate Shae Baird (Barcelona 16:30 - 19:00 basis voor actuele kunst Utrecht) en Comú) • Despina Koutsoumba Out of the Syrian Civil War, the autonomous government of Rojava • Sînem Mohammed (The Front of the Anticapitalist Left, emerged, bringing into practice an alternative model of stateless • Moussa Ag Assarid ANTARSYA) demo-cracy. Crisis can produce utter devastation, while at (Free Azawad) • Lorenzo Marsili (DiEM25/ European the same time, creating the conditions for radical political al- • Laura Raicovich (Queens Museum) Alternatives) ternatives. What can international emancipatory political or- • Shela Sheikh (Goldsmiths, University • Katerin Mendez (Feminist Initiative!) ganizations, platforms, and movements learn from the Rojava of London) Revolution? What can be learned from the economic and refugee 19:00 crises in Greece, the rise of ultranationalism and even fascist 19:00 Closing words by Refik Gefur organizations in Europe, and the politics of misogyny and patriar- Conclusion and Seher Aydar chy now emerging on a global scale? What are the alliances and processes of mutual learning between Rojava’s stateless democ- racy and the new municipal democracies, pan-European move- ments, and feminist platforms emerging throughout Europe and the world?.
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