The Kurdish revolution in Syria under the shadow of social movement theories

This paper examines the Kurdish revolution in Syria, centered on the autonomous administration of Rojava, through the framework of social movement theories, with particular emphasis on political opportunity structure (POS) as the primary analytical lens. Emerging amid the instability of the Syrian Civil War, Kurdish actors capitalised on shifting political conditions and state withdrawal to establish a decentralised system of governance rooted in democratic confederalism, emphasising direct democracy, gender equality, and cultural pluralism. To explain the emergence, development, and resilience of this revolutionary project, the paper employs a multi-theoretical approach in which resource mobilisation, framing, new social movements, and contentious politics theories serve as complementary perspectives. Together, these frameworks demonstrate how the Kurdish revolution mobilised resources, constructed political narratives, and evolved in response to regional and international pressures. The paper argues that the Rojava experience represents a significant case of political transformation shaped primarily by changing political opportunities in a precarious regional environment.