The Roots Winter School 2023 provided space for discussions around the systemic injustices committed by the Global North on the Global South. Rooted in exploitative systems, these injustices depict a world defined by power imbalances and structures that reproduce colonialism, imperialism, fascism, and patriarchy. Integral to the dialogue was the incorporation of degrowth, reminding us of the responsibilities of the Global North and inviting us to take systemic action. Highlighting different layers of violence, the RWS signified a common desire for radical change.
Below, we recall moments from the Roots Winter School, trying to illustrate the personal and collective paths we co-created for this desirable radical change.
- Sustainable Masculinities and Femininities by Pierre Smith Khanna
Starting with a more personal reflective workshop, Pierre demonstrated how violence is gendered. Men are socialized to “be” a certain way. This can be structurally reinforced by the hegemonic systems that shape and influence how societies are organized.
- Abolitionist Feminist Perspectives on Violence by Anna Carastathis
Anna invited participants to share personal views on violence, fostering a discussion that leaned towards and introduced abolitionist feminist perspectives on violence.
- Violent Sociopolitical Fabrics – Subversive Examinations of Contemporary Society and Visions for the Future with Emilia Reyes, Max Ajl, Pierre Smith Khanna, and Amerissa Giannouli, Moderation by Nikos Pasamitros
Amerissa opened up the panel discussion by referring to visible, invisible, and hidden expressions of violence within local historical and everyday experiences of young people. The way these experiences are manipulated and influenced by certain interests can deepen uncertainties and prompt fascist reactions. This underscores the importance of civil society fostering critical reflective actions to increase political consciousness.
Pierre introduced degrowth as “A vision of a better world in which care, relationships and connection are put at the centre of society, over and above profit, competition and economic growth”. However, the question arises: How do we reach this vision? Which are the boundaries between non-violent and violent strategies for such transformations?
Max drew a direct link to capitalism, referring to it as “a system defined by colonialism, imperialism, oppression and genocide by the so-called global North to accumulate wealth”. Capitalism continues to shape our current world order, and to dismantle this system of oppression, there are different yet interrelated faces of struggle. In the “North”, the focus should be on decommodifying essential services (health, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, consumer goods), improving their quality, and using less materials and energy. This should be accompanied by demilitarization, anti-imperialism, and efforts to address the climate debt. In the “South”, there’s the need for sovereign industrialization and agrarian reform grounded in ecological planning. Achieving this requires national liberation and a departure from the world capitalist system (delinking).
Emilia closed the panel by connecting the contributions within a framework of global justice, drawing from collective experiences and struggles in the South. She emphasized the need for a decolonial and anti-imperial radicalization of our analysis and actions, advocating for actual reparations and system change.
- Abysses and Corners: The immigrant as perpetual victim of the sovereign’s monopoly of violence by Sanem Su Avci
Sanem shared incidents of human rights violations against immigrants and “minor” incidents that regular immigrants face within the institutional framework of the nation-state, incidents we may not necessarily conceive of as violations. She described how a hidden caste system emerges as a consequence of global border policing.
- Fireside Tales: People and Stories of Resilience with Nour Alahmmad, Reine Linda Nyongo, Moussa Sangare, and Enri Hysenbelli
Nour, Reine, Moussa, and Enri shared their personal experiences of racist violence. Importantly, they also shared moments and processes that enabled them to confront racist violence, whether through individual or collective empowerment.
- Heritage, International Politics and Heritage Policies by Nikos Pasamitros
Nikos discussed cultural heritage policies and international politics, showing how international institutions often perpetuate certain power dynamics that strengthen the existing world order. International Governmental Organisations have historically been formed and operated based on specific notions of development. Through these organizations, cultural heritage can be used to drive economic growth rather than prioritizing socio-ecological well-being.
- Global Justice with a Decolonial Lens by Emilia Reyes
Emilia encouraged participants to collectively explore the steps the Global North must take for a future centered on liberation. Although young people live in the capitalist system that sustains the current world order, there are ways and points of intervention that they could use to challenge it. Participants shared their thoughts referring to awareness raising, localisation, boycotting, municipalism, civil disobedience, strict regulations to corporations, redistribution, focusing on basic needs, planned degrowth, consideration of the effects on the working class, collective action instead of individuality, and self-care.
- The Fairytales of Growth documentary screening at the Transnational Institute of Social Ecology (TRISE)
- Harvesting, evaluation and planning for the future
These three days were emotionally, mentally, and even physically intense. Creating art can be a healing and empowering experience. Hence, to close the deep reflective collective experience of the Roots Winter School we chose to transfer our thoughts and action plans into creative zines.
Until next time!
