Rosa Luxemburg, who opposed the German Social Democratic Party's (SPD) support for the war in the First World War in line with the interests of German monopolies, was assassinated on 15 January 1919 in Berlin. One of the 20th century's most important revolutionaries, Rosa Luxemburg was a Polish-born German socialist. One of the pioneers of the struggle against war and militarism, Rosa Luxemburg was also a women's rights defender. She was one of the architects of International Women's Day on 8 March, which was declared in memory of the deaths of 120 of the 40,000 women who went on strike for better working conditions and equal pay for equal work on 8 March 1857 in New York, USA. Rosa Luxemburg was one of the names who presented the proposal to declare 8 March International Women's Day, which dates back to the 1800s.

 

The dream of an equal and free life of women who took over the legacy of Rosa Luxemburg came to life in North and East Syria. On the occasion of 8 March, we had an interview with Lama Ghandour, Programme Manager for Migration and Feminism at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Lama Ghandour, who met the foundation when she was doing her master's degree in human rights in Germany and learned there about the commitment to left-socialist values despite all obstacles, emphasised that Rosa Luxemburg's principles of solidarity, equality and freedom shone in the "Rojava Women's Revolution".

 

What are the biggest social and economic problems women face today? How do you evaluate the limits of the capitalist system on women’s lives?

 

I might be stating the obvious when I say that capitalism is one of the main systems of oppression for women around the world. It’s a patriarchal system that thrives on power dynamics that systematically marginalize groups like women, refugees, and the LGBTQI+ community. Capitalism distributes resources in an inequitable way, and those who fall outside the dominant power structure, especially women and gender minorities, suffer the most.

 

Women today continue to face deep-rooted social and economic challenges, including systemic gender-based violence, economic insecurity, and political marginalization. In times of financial crisis, which is inevitable in a capitalist system, these issues are exacerbated and become much more visible. In Lebanon, due to the ongoing economic crisis, women are disproportionately impacted by rising unemployment, poverty, and a lack of access to essential services. Under capitalism, women’s unpaid labor—whether in the home or in community work—is consistently undervalued, further entrenching their marginalization. This economic system limits women’s ability to achieve true independence and fully participate in decision-making processes, perpetuating cycles of dependency and inequality. 

 

It’s also crucial not to overlook civil and political rights, which are just as important as economic and social rights. For instance, Lebanon was the first country in the region to grant women the right to vote and run, however, till the date women remain severely underrepresented in the political sphere. With men continuing to dominate the political landscape, women’s voices are still far too often sidelined.

 

Do you have any work as a foundation to solve these problems? With which activities do you carry out Rosa Luxemburg’s struggle within the foundation today?

 

We carry Rosa’s name with pride, and we identify with her values of socialism, equality, and solidarity. At the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Lebanon, we work to amplify women’s voices, promote gender equality, and advocate for social justice. We support grassroots organizations and movements that work with marginalized women, offering resources and platforms for their activism, and we like to support women led initiatives. Our activities also include research on the economic, social, and political conditions that shape women’s lives.

 

Rosa Luxemburg’s ideas on socialism, class struggle, and the importance of solidarity guide our work. I can these values translated into our programs as well as our approach and vision. At Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Beirut, we focus on making political knowledge accessible and fostering informed, critical dialogue as tools for action. Accessibility to knowledge is key in any social change. And change can only happen when people of all gender identities are able to challenge the capitalist structures that undermine their equality and freedom.

 

We say, be the change you want to see. Building on that, our Beirut office, we are a living example of women’s power; coincidentally, we are all women here. While we do have consultants from other genders, all of us employees are women managing a successful office. If I may build on our experience, I wouldn’t say it’s been easy. Many times, my colleagues and I have felt that if we were men, things might have been easier for us. We wouldn’t have had to work as hard to achieve what we want or to be valued and respected without constantly proving our worth and qualifications. As women, we often have to do more than men to earn the same recognition. Not knowing something or lacking experience as a woman is seen as a weakness, while for men, it’s much less of an issue.

 

How do you evaluate the current work of the women’s movements that took over Rosa Luxemburg’s legacy and their struggle for freedom and equality? Is it enough? What more can be done? Are there reflections on practice?

 

The women’s movements carrying Rosa Luxemburg’s legacy have made some important progress, especially when it comes to issues like gender-based violence, labor rights, and getting more women into political spaces. But honestly, the fight is far from over. 

 

I think the answer relies here is the word  ”movement”. It’s always evolving, always pushing forward. Sure, there are setbacks right now, for example, we’re seeing the rise of right-wing groups in many places, cracking down on things like abortion rights, trans rights, and even basic freedoms like freedom of expression. The economic and social structures that come with this movement also have a direct impact on gender rights, often restricting progress. 

 

Even though we’ve made progress, we’re still facing deeply rooted patriarchy and capitalism that keep inequality in place. To move forward, we need more solidarity between women’s struggles globally. We can’t just focus on our own issues; we need to link arms and support one another.

 

Of course, we have to keep challenging capitalist systems. One way to do that is by supporting alternative models of economic and social organization, like what we’re seeing in places like Rojava, where women are gaining power both at home and in the public sphere. I would like to highlight our food sovereignty program at Rosa Beirut, which also falls under the same aim and its such an important pillar in our fight.

 

How is Rosa Luxemburg’s revolutionary perspective, especially her understanding of anti-capitalism, socialism, class struggle, equality and freedom, being realised in practice in the model in North and East Syria (AANES-Rojava)?

 

I cant be definite whether the revolution in Rojava was inspired by Rosa Luxemburg’s revolutionary ideas, I guess we will have to ask the activists there. However, with an outsider’slens, I could say that Rosa was present. The rejection of capitalist structures and building a democratic confederalism. This means communities are organizing themselves, and decisions are being made at the local level rather than being controlled by a central authority. 

 

Women were and are at the forefront of all this. They’re not just participating; they’re challenging traditional, patriarchal structures daily. This mirrors Luxemburg’s vision of socialism, where collective ownership and control of resources are key.

 

And of course, the emphasis on gender equality is huge. It directly reflects Luxemburg’s belief that social justice isn’t just about economics—it’s about making sure no one gets left behind, especially women. It’s inspiring to see how these ideas are being put into practice in a way that gives women more power, control, and agency in shaping their futures.

 

What similarities does Luxemburg’s conception of social revolution have with the democratic autonomy model in North and East Syria? Does this model have aspects close to Luxemburg’s socialist ideals?

 

Rosa Luxemburg’s vision of social revolution and the democratic autonomy model in North and East Syria have a lot in common when it comes to challenging the capitalist state and breaking down hierarchical power structures. She fought for a revolution that would dismantle capitalism and create a society based on equality and solidarity. Similarly, in Rojava, the focus is on building a decentralized society, where local communities have control over their resources and decisions.

 

Women play a huge role in this model, ensuring that gender equality is at the very heart of the revolution. I can definitely see Rosa’s principles of solidarity, equality, and freedom shining through in Rojava’s revolution. The feminist movement there fought for their place and became an active part of the revolution, even shaping the government.

 

How does Rosa Luxemburg’s anti-war and criticism of imperialism manifest itself in the struggle of women in North and East Syria for peace and freedom?

 

Rosa Luxemburg was a strong opponent of war and imperialism, mainly because of their role in the accumulation of capital. In addition to its role in enriching capitalism and imperialism, We are aware of the conundrum that armed struggle leads to militarization. Militarization leads to more violence, and we know that women and diverse gender identities are disproportionality affected by violence, particularly during armed conflicts. and are the most affected, especially when we talk about sexual violence.

 

In North and East Syria, women’s movements continue this fight by opposing imperialist interventions and foreign occupations that threaten their sovereignty and self-determination. The women of Rojava understand that peace cannot be achieved in the context of imperialist wars or foreign domination. Their struggle is not only for gender equality but also for the freedom of their communities from external powers. This could be in line with Luxemburg’s critique of imperialism and war, which she believed served the interests of capital while the needs of people, particularly women, were disregarded. 

 

It’s important to mention as well that now, with the peace call being announced just 2 days ago. women are pushed back into the private sphere post-conflict; the more militarized the society, the more gender-based violence exists. violence continues, and it doesn’t end when a peace agreement is signed. Kurdish women are aware of this, and they try to resist this pushback. That is crucial in their strategy and contributed to their success and visibility.

 

 As a feminist researcher, are you hopeful for a world in which women’s struggle for freedom and equality will be more practised? What kind of a common women’s struggle is needed to make the Rojava example more widespread?

 

We have no choice but to be hopeful if we want to continue the fight in a strong and meaningful way. Hope is key—it drives us, keeps us going, and makes us believe that freeing ourselves from patriarchal structures and oppression is inevitable. Setbacks are a part of the movement; these things don’t follow a straight line. There are ups and downs, and we should be prepared for that. We’ve already seen some countries cracking down on reproductive rights and access to abortion, for example. 

 

It’s a long journey toward fully realizing our rights, freedom, and justice, but we are committed to this cause.

 

The Rojava example offers valuable lessons on how a community-based, feminist, and anti- capitalist approach can create a more just society. But I can’t say exactly what is needed to make it more widespread. Every society is unique in its structure, cohesion, and traditions, and what works in one place doesn’t necessarily work in another. Revolutions and governance systems need to be flexible and adapt to each society. Socialism and justice—dismantling capitalism and patriarchy—would be the highest principles, but these can be realized and achieved in different ways.

 

  In connection with the previous question, what would be your call to women for International Women’s Day? 

 

We should be proud of what we have achieved to date. We are fighting a robust capitalist system, where the most powerful live and win. We, as women, transgender, and A-gender, aren’t the most powerful and don’t enjoy equal rights or have fair access to resources. Despite that, we are strong and continuing the fight with minimal resources. And we have achieved a lot.

 

Of course, we are still denied a lot of rights; in Lebanon, women still cannot pass their nationality to their children and partners. Patriarchy is still rooted in the legal system, and that’s just one example. So, the feminist struggle is ongoing, and there’s a lot of work still to do. As feminists, we keep raising our voices until these injustices are addressed and we have a legal system that truly protects everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

 

When we think of someone like Rosa Luxemburg, it’s important to remember that while she didn’t necessarily identify as a feminist, her work was still deeply rooted in the fight for equality and social justice. She understood that socialism, in its truest form, would guarantee rights and equality for all marginalized groups—women included. Her ideas on class and equality touched on women’s rights, even if she didn’t focus on feminism in the way we might today. 

 

Let’s manage our expectations and stay strategic in approaching the fight for equality. It’s all about a deep commitment to socialism from the ground up, where everyone, regardless of class or background, is part of the change. We don’t always have to solve everything all at once, and that’s okay. It’s more about recognizing this is a continuous struggle, a long-term fight for justice that needs patience and persistence. 

 

It is a long road a continuous struggle. We will never give up on, until we all enjoy equal rights and freedom. Giving up will never be an option no matter what.