John Holloway

The militants of Rojava, and the autonomous society they've built, teach us how to kindle hope for the tireless fight against oppression.Drawing on three years living and working in Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan), journalist Matt Broomfield argues the militant Kurdish movement can help the Western left relearn its commitment to hope in hopeless times. The bloodshed and chaos of the Syrian Civil War have paradoxically produced our generation's most significant revolution. Firsthand observations from the heart of Rojava's movement inform Broomfield's critical engagement with its theory and practice and, inevitably, its compromises and contradictions. In the face of crises set to define the coming century--proxy conflict, resource competition, state collapse, climate catastrophe--the Kurdish movement has produced an unexpected, utopian response: an autonomous society organized outside of the nation-state, run by direct democracy and along feminist and ecological principles, surviving despite overwhelming military opposition.The revolutionary movement of Rojava and its people shed light on struggle, strategy, and endurance--how and why to fight for revolution in the face of nearly impossible odds. Hope Without Hope carries on the long tradition of history, absurdist philosophy, and radical thought that has studied how anti-fascist and anti-colonial movements answer defeat and repression with a revolutionary faith in transformation. Only by understanding this history can we pursue the steadfast work of organizing for long-term revolutionary change in our seemingly hopeless age.

The theory, practice, and challenges of the feminist, anticapitalist Rojava revolution.More than a decade has passed since the revolutionary process began in Rojava, later evolving into the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Guided by Abdullah calan's theory of Democratic Confederalism, a philosophical and political project aimed at building an ecological, nonhierarchical society, the people of Rojava aim to construct alternative, directly democratic institutions capable of transcending the capitalist nation-state.Rojava in Focus advances a discussion about the revolution within the framework of Democratic Confederalism, assessing the achievements, contradictions, and various shortcomings. The book follows the experience of the revolutionary movement that animates the DAANES, highlighting its achievements as well as the significant obstacles it has encountered. Rojava in Focus grapples with the gap between aspirations and reality, aiming to bridge this gap through constructive criticism.Essays by activists associated with the Kurdish Freedom Movement and sympathetic critics expand our understanding of the vast changes taking place in the region, the challenges ahead, and connections to other movements around the globe. As well, they point to where the movement may head next.Contributors include Azize Aslan, Debbie Bookchin, Kamal Chomani, Matt Broomfield, Sixtine van Outryve d'Ydewalle, and Anna Rebrii and Berivan Omar, among others. The book is completed by interviews with members of the Rojava leadership, such as Foza Yusif, lham Ehmed, Salih Muslim, and activists of the DAANES.

Hope lies in our richness, in the joy of our collective creativity. But that richness exists in the peculiar form of money. The fact that we relate to on another through money causes tremendous social pain and destruction and is dragging us through pandemics and war towards extinction. Richness against money: this battle will decide the future of humanity. If we cannot emancipate richness from money-capital-profit, there is probably no hope. Money seems invincible but the constant expansion of debt shows that its rule is fragile. The fictitious expansion of money through debt is driven by fear, fear of us, fear of the rabble. Money contains, but richness overflows. In this final part of his ground-breaking trilogy, John Holloway expertly fuses anti-capitalism and anti-identitarianism, and brings hope into the critique of political economy and revolutionary theory, challenging us to find hope within ourselves and channel it into a dignified, revolutionary rage.

Hope lies in our richness, in the joy of our collective creativity. But that richness exists in the peculiar form of money. The fact that we relate to on another through money causes tremendous social pain and destruction and is dragging us through pandemics and war towards extinction. Richness against money: this battle will decide the future of humanity. If we cannot emancipate richness from money-capital-profit, there is probably no hope. Money seems invincible but the constant expansion of debt shows that its rule is fragile. The fictitious expansion of money through debt is driven by fear, fear of us, fear of the rabble. Money contains, but richness overflows. In this final part of his ground-breaking trilogy, John Holloway expertly fuses anti-capitalism and anti-identitarianism, and brings hope into the critique of political economy and revolutionary theory, challenging us to find hope within ourselves and channel it into a dignified, revolutionary rage.

'A fascinating portal into arguments about why we need to get beyond money' - Harry Cleaver What would a world without money look like? This book is a lively thought experiment that deepens our understanding of how money is the driver of political power, environmental destruction and social inequality today, arguing that it has to be abolished rather than repurposed to achieve a postcapitalist future. Grounded in historical debates about money, Anitra Nelson draws on a spectrum of political and economic thought and activism, including feminism, ecoanarchism, degrowth, permaculture, autonomism, Marxism and ecosocialism. Looking to Indigenous rights activism and the defence of commons, an international network of activists engaged in a fight for a money-free society emerges. Beyond Money shows that, by organising around post-money versions of the future, activists have a hope of creating a world that embodies their radical values and visions.

'A fascinating portal into arguments about why we need to get beyond money' - Harry Cleaver What would a world without money look like? This book is a lively thought experiment that deepens our understanding of how money is the driver of political power, environmental destruction and social inequality today, arguing that it has to be abolished rather than repurposed to achieve a postcapitalist future. Grounded in historical debates about money, Anitra Nelson draws on a spectrum of political and economic thought and activism, including feminism, ecoanarchism, degrowth, permaculture, autonomism, Marxism and ecosocialism. Looking to Indigenous rights activism and the defence of commons, an international network of activists engaged in a fight for a money-free society emerges. Beyond Money shows that, by organising around post-money versions of the future, activists have a hope of creating a world that embodies their radical values and visions.

Originally published as a pamphlet in 1979 and again by Pluto in 1980, In and Against the State brought together questions of working-class struggle and state power, exploring how revolutionary socialists might reconcile working in the public sector with their radical politics. Informed by autonomist political ideas and practices that were central to the protests of 1968, the book’s authors spoke to a generation of activists wrestling with the question of where to place their energies. Forty years have passed, yet the questions it posed are still to be answered. As the eclipse of Corbynism and the onslaught of the global pandemic have demonstrated with brutal clarity, a renewed socialist strategy is needed more urgently than ever. This edition includes a new introduction by Seth Wheeler and an interview with John McDonnell that reflect on the continuing relevance of In and Against the State and the questions it raises.

Originally published as a pamphlet in 1979 and again by Pluto in 1980, In and Against the State brought together questions of working-class struggle and state power, exploring how revolutionary socialists might reconcile working in the public sector with their radical politics. Informed by autonomist political ideas and practices that were central to the protests of 1968, the book’s authors spoke to a generation of activists wrestling with the question of where to place their energies. Forty years have passed, yet the questions it posed are still to be answered. As the eclipse of Corbynism and the onslaught of the global pandemic have demonstrated with brutal clarity, a renewed socialist strategy is needed more urgently than ever. This edition includes a new introduction by Seth Wheeler and an interview with John McDonnell that reflect on the continuing relevance of In and Against the State and the questions it raises.

Now in its fourth edition, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide delivers a step-by-step approach to the most prevalent and established theatre production practices, focusing on essential issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. Offering techniques and best-practice methods from experienced industry experts, this book allows readers to create a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production. The new edition has been fully updated to include the latest technology and current practices, with four new chapters on Safety, Automation, Digital Fabrication, and the Production Process, and an emphasis on inclusivity and gender-neutral language.A must-have resource for both the community theatre worker who must be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals on his or her own, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide covers all the necessities of theatre production through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings.The book also includes access to a companion website featuring instruction videos, tips for an eco-friendly production, and additional images and resources.

Now in its fourth edition, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide delivers a step-by-step approach to the most prevalent and established theatre production practices, focusing on essential issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. Offering techniques and best-practice methods from experienced industry experts, this book allows readers to create a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production. The new edition has been fully updated to include the latest technology and current practices, with four new chapters on Safety, Automation, Digital Fabrication, and the Production Process, and an emphasis on inclusivity and gender-neutral language.A must-have resource for both the community theatre worker who must be a jack of all trades and the student who needs to learn the fundamentals on his or her own, Illustrated Theatre Production Guide covers all the necessities of theatre production through detailed lessons and hundreds of drawings.The book also includes access to a companion website featuring instruction videos, tips for an eco-friendly production, and additional images and resources.