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Prison Writings #1
The Roots of Civilisation
Abdullah Ocalan was the most wanted man in Turkey for almost two decades until his kidnapping and arrest in 1999. He has been in prison ever since. He is the founder of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). From 1984, under his leadership, the PKK fought for an independent Kurdish state in the south east of Turkey. In a sustained popular uprising, tens of thousands of PKK guerrillas took on the second largest army in NATO. Since his imprisonment, Ocalan has written extensively on Kurdish history. This book brings together his writings for the first time. Breathtaking in scope, it provides a broad Marxist perspective on ancient Middle Eastern history, incorporating the rise of the major religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism), and defining the Kurdish position within this, from the ancient Sumerian civilization through the feudal age, the birth of capitalism and beyond.
-- First publication of the prison writings of one of the world's most famous revolutionaries
-- 'Very readable. It is a tour-de-force.' Ghada Talhami, D.K. Pearsons Professor of Politics, Lake Forest College, Illinois
'We would expect Abdullah Ocalan to write a political treatise. Instead, he has penned a monumental history of the ancient Near East that offers a grand vision...This is the first truly postcolonial history of Mesopotamia.' Randall H. McGuire, Professor of Anthropology, Binghamton University
-- First publication of the prison writings of one of the world's most famous revolutionaries
-- 'Very readable. It is a tour-de-force.' Ghada Talhami, D.K. Pearsons Professor of Politics, Lake Forest College, Illinois
'We would expect Abdullah Ocalan to write a political treatise. Instead, he has penned a monumental history of the ancient Near East that offers a grand vision...This is the first truly postcolonial history of Mesopotamia.' Randall H. McGuire, Professor of Anthropology, Binghamton University
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Abdullah Öcalan
96 books337 followersAbdullah Öcalan is the founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). From 1984, under his leadership, the PKK fought for Kurdish liberation. Since his kidnapping and arrest in 1999, he has been in solitary confinement in Imrali Island Prison.
Since his imprisonment, Ocalan has written extensively on Middle Eastern and Kurdish history. With his books he has significantly influenced the course of Kurdish politics in the last two decades.
He argues for the concepts of Democratic Autonomy and Democratic Confederalism that are considered an alternative to a Kurdish nation-state.
From 2009-2015, the Turkish state held negotiations with him about a solution of the Kurdish Question. Since the collapse of the talks in 2015, Öcalan has been under total isolation.
Since his imprisonment, Ocalan has written extensively on Middle Eastern and Kurdish history. With his books he has significantly influenced the course of Kurdish politics in the last two decades.
He argues for the concepts of Democratic Autonomy and Democratic Confederalism that are considered an alternative to a Kurdish nation-state.
From 2009-2015, the Turkish state held negotiations with him about a solution of the Kurdish Question. Since the collapse of the talks in 2015, Öcalan has been under total isolation.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 13, 2018
A great leftist treasure, Ocalan has written this book in a tiny prison cell, about the history of our civilisation from a middle-eastern/Mesopotamian perspective and focuses on the origins of today's issues.
He talks about the rise of patriarchy and gender inequality, racism, greed, democracy and corrupted economies whilst discussing how to tackle these issues and what alternatives are available.
Although the subjects are global, Ocalan offers a tasteful leftist/Marxist vision for the middle-east, so I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in envisioning a developed Middle East leaning towards a leftist revolutionary sphere.
He talks about the rise of patriarchy and gender inequality, racism, greed, democracy and corrupted economies whilst discussing how to tackle these issues and what alternatives are available.
Although the subjects are global, Ocalan offers a tasteful leftist/Marxist vision for the middle-east, so I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in envisioning a developed Middle East leaning towards a leftist revolutionary sphere.
September 22, 2016
Thanks to Abdullah Ocalan I don't even know what to call myself, or how to succinctly identify myself anymore. I think the term "democratic confederalist" most people just won't understand. I used to be an autonomous Marxist, but hey, that doesn't work anymore.
The man, and Rojava, have really been eye opening to me.
This is an incredible book, historically, politically, philosophically, etc.
The man, and Rojava, have really been eye opening to me.
This is an incredible book, historically, politically, philosophically, etc.
April 15, 2022
"Outsider" Big History
Öcalan—the (in)famous leader of the Kurdish revolution—has more experience with praxis than theory, but one wouldn't guess that from this extensive, measured history of world development. Of special note are 1) Öcalan's focus on religious institutions as integral to the development of dominant civilizations and their discontents and 2) his pragmatic post-Marxism that is more concerned with developing intellectual history than in waiting in expectation for history to be fulfilled according to a predetermined metaphysics or teleology. While his political arguments don't hold up to the advanced arguments of contemporary political philosophy, he does bring a unique perspective to political conversations. A wide variety of readers will be able to find something of interest in Öcalan's work. I especially recommend the book to sympathizers of postcolonial and anarchist movements.
Öcalan—the (in)famous leader of the Kurdish revolution—has more experience with praxis than theory, but one wouldn't guess that from this extensive, measured history of world development. Of special note are 1) Öcalan's focus on religious institutions as integral to the development of dominant civilizations and their discontents and 2) his pragmatic post-Marxism that is more concerned with developing intellectual history than in waiting in expectation for history to be fulfilled according to a predetermined metaphysics or teleology. While his political arguments don't hold up to the advanced arguments of contemporary political philosophy, he does bring a unique perspective to political conversations. A wide variety of readers will be able to find something of interest in Öcalan's work. I especially recommend the book to sympathizers of postcolonial and anarchist movements.
June 1, 2011
a great marxist historical survey of the middle east and europe since the sumerians
September 26, 2020
Over the years I’ve posted 204 reviews on GoodReads. I almost never review a book that I wouldn’t recommend to others. The book group I’m in selected this title, and reading it was a real struggle. I didn’t entirely read it. The only reason I’m writing this brief unpolished review is because I have accumulated 108 followers on GoodReads, and I’ve only posted two reviews in the last year. I wanted to let them know that I’ve been working on a new book for two years, and posting sections of the rough draft on my blog as I write them. It can be found HERE.
Abdullah Ocalan is a Kurd who was born in Turkey in 1949. Once upon a time, he was a political science professor. In 1978, he was one of the founders of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a movement that seeks independence for the Kurds, and the establishment of their own homeland. The Kurds live in a region that spans across portions of Turkey and Syria, and they have had many struggles over the centuries.
The PKK began violently clashing with Turkey in 1984, which did not amuse the Turks. Consequently, Ocalan has been relaxing in a Turkish prison since 1999, where he had been allowed extremely limited contact with the outside world. Because Turkey has some interest in joining the European Union, they have not executed him. He has written 40 books, including four in prison. For The Roots of Civilization, he wrote the book’s intro in 2001. By 2006, it had been translated into English.
The Middle East was the birthplace of civilization, a political system that eventually spread west into Greece, then Rome, then the rest of Europe, and finally most of the world. In school, we were taught that civilization was a great advancement. Environmental history sees it as more of a great disaster. I have not thoroughly studied the history of the ancient Middle East, which reaches back 10,000 years.
The book assumes that you are already familiar with the numerous tribes, and the rise and fall of lots of empires and civilizations. It was not written to lead dummies by the hand. No maps. After plowing through the first 90 pages, I was still in a fog, so I fast forwarded to the rear end of the book, some of which was fairly understandable. I’m not especially interested in political science, or lofty theoretical abstractions.
In a nutshell, Ocalan saw the early rise of Sumer as fairly cool. In modern times, the Middle East resembles a train wreck of endless conflict, religious hostility, repression of women, environmental devastation, etc. So, Ocalan is on a mission from God to present a miraculous grand vision for fixing it — unifying the sects of Islam, creating a region-wide democratic federation, and joining the vanguard of world-leading powers. His vision is extremely radical and incredibly idealistic. For me, it was quite heavy on the magical thinking. But big dreams have to think outside the box. He was writing back in the twentieth century, when many were still contemplating optimistic big dreams.
I was really interested in a theme that only appeared in bits and pieces. Early Sumerian religion was pantheistic. Female deities had prominent roles. Sumerian myth portrayed humans as being slaves and servants, not the crown of creation. Slavery has been a longstanding component of civilization. In the Babylonian era, monotheism emerged, the role of women was sharply demoted, and the age of patriarchy arrived.
Patriarchal monotheism was the father of three traditions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Masculinity is noble, and women are deceitful, like Eve in the Garden of Eden being prodded by Satan. Patterns that originally emerged in Sumer are still being echoed over much of the modern world. Unfortunately, the modern world is not on the path to utopia, women are totally pissed, men are lost and confused, and the planet is being pounded to pieces.
Ocalan is notable for his outspoken criticism of patriarchal oppression. He dreams of creating a future where women have absolute respect and equality. This book devotes minimal attention to feminist liberation. For more on this subject, see Liberating Life: Woman’s Revolution, a 68 page essay that can be found HERE.
Abdullah Ocalan is a Kurd who was born in Turkey in 1949. Once upon a time, he was a political science professor. In 1978, he was one of the founders of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a movement that seeks independence for the Kurds, and the establishment of their own homeland. The Kurds live in a region that spans across portions of Turkey and Syria, and they have had many struggles over the centuries.
The PKK began violently clashing with Turkey in 1984, which did not amuse the Turks. Consequently, Ocalan has been relaxing in a Turkish prison since 1999, where he had been allowed extremely limited contact with the outside world. Because Turkey has some interest in joining the European Union, they have not executed him. He has written 40 books, including four in prison. For The Roots of Civilization, he wrote the book’s intro in 2001. By 2006, it had been translated into English.
The Middle East was the birthplace of civilization, a political system that eventually spread west into Greece, then Rome, then the rest of Europe, and finally most of the world. In school, we were taught that civilization was a great advancement. Environmental history sees it as more of a great disaster. I have not thoroughly studied the history of the ancient Middle East, which reaches back 10,000 years.
The book assumes that you are already familiar with the numerous tribes, and the rise and fall of lots of empires and civilizations. It was not written to lead dummies by the hand. No maps. After plowing through the first 90 pages, I was still in a fog, so I fast forwarded to the rear end of the book, some of which was fairly understandable. I’m not especially interested in political science, or lofty theoretical abstractions.
In a nutshell, Ocalan saw the early rise of Sumer as fairly cool. In modern times, the Middle East resembles a train wreck of endless conflict, religious hostility, repression of women, environmental devastation, etc. So, Ocalan is on a mission from God to present a miraculous grand vision for fixing it — unifying the sects of Islam, creating a region-wide democratic federation, and joining the vanguard of world-leading powers. His vision is extremely radical and incredibly idealistic. For me, it was quite heavy on the magical thinking. But big dreams have to think outside the box. He was writing back in the twentieth century, when many were still contemplating optimistic big dreams.
I was really interested in a theme that only appeared in bits and pieces. Early Sumerian religion was pantheistic. Female deities had prominent roles. Sumerian myth portrayed humans as being slaves and servants, not the crown of creation. Slavery has been a longstanding component of civilization. In the Babylonian era, monotheism emerged, the role of women was sharply demoted, and the age of patriarchy arrived.
Patriarchal monotheism was the father of three traditions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Masculinity is noble, and women are deceitful, like Eve in the Garden of Eden being prodded by Satan. Patterns that originally emerged in Sumer are still being echoed over much of the modern world. Unfortunately, the modern world is not on the path to utopia, women are totally pissed, men are lost and confused, and the planet is being pounded to pieces.
Ocalan is notable for his outspoken criticism of patriarchal oppression. He dreams of creating a future where women have absolute respect and equality. This book devotes minimal attention to feminist liberation. For more on this subject, see Liberating Life: Woman’s Revolution, a 68 page essay that can be found HERE.
May 21, 2025
Picking this up decades after it was first written I was shocked by how fresh the root diagnosis felt.
Departing the "real socialism" of the 20th century Öcalan, the gurella revoltionary leader of PKK, ernestly attempts to bring us up-to-speed through an anthropological crash course. I can't say I enjoyed much of the ancient civilisation recap of Part 1. Maybe the translations made it clunky and dry. But by the cultural synthesis of Part 5 it was reading clear.
The dialetic dance of civilisations was intriguing. He believes despite the great twists and turns we are still largely living within the seed of Sumerian civilisation and so, whilst understanding the changes from other civilisations, we need to break from it specifically.
The sociological exploration of Judaism, Christianity and Islam was novel. As well as the Middle-Eastern stagnation between 12th-15th century before Europe's Enlightment period setting us up for our current lopsided political predicament.
He believes the Middle-East specifically because of it's deficits could be ripe for regional democratic revitalisiation that could propell much of the world towards an egalitarian future
Departing the "real socialism" of the 20th century Öcalan, the gurella revoltionary leader of PKK, ernestly attempts to bring us up-to-speed through an anthropological crash course. I can't say I enjoyed much of the ancient civilisation recap of Part 1. Maybe the translations made it clunky and dry. But by the cultural synthesis of Part 5 it was reading clear.
The dialetic dance of civilisations was intriguing. He believes despite the great twists and turns we are still largely living within the seed of Sumerian civilisation and so, whilst understanding the changes from other civilisations, we need to break from it specifically.
The sociological exploration of Judaism, Christianity and Islam was novel. As well as the Middle-Eastern stagnation between 12th-15th century before Europe's Enlightment period setting us up for our current lopsided political predicament.
He believes the Middle-East specifically because of it's deficits could be ripe for regional democratic revitalisiation that could propell much of the world towards an egalitarian future
November 14, 2019
“The humanity will win”
April 6, 2021
The Das Kapital of the superstructure. Ocalan traces the historical development of ideology/religion in relation to the development of class.
October 5, 2025
Legend
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews