Dimitrios I. Roussopoulos, the author of New Compass's latest publication—Political Ecology: Beyond Environmentalism—recently gave a talk in London. We had a conversation with him about the ideas in the book, the audience it appeals to, and the relevance and successes of social ecology.

As the conflict in Turkey spirals out of control the aggressions against the Kurdish population gets increasingly violent. The latest in a row of belligerent attacks is the siege of Cizre, leaving parts of the town demolished and over twenty civilians dead.

Ideology castrates ideas, turning them into sterile, mummified dogmas that cannot exist beyond their initial form. If we are going to challenge the existing order, we need to move beyond ideology. This does not mean abdicating from our ideas and principles, but their constant re-evaluation and development.

Having suffered a traumatic genocide, Yazidi women on Mount Sinjar mobilize their autonomous armed and political resistance with the PKK’s philosophy. The atmosphere of Rojava now animates Shengal, where new councils, protests, meetings, and resistance constitutes a bold social revolution.

New Compass contributor Marco Rossaire Rossi is one of three candidates running for local council in Olympia, Washington (USA) on a platform for a more just, inclusive, ecological and participatory city. Read their full platform here.

20th century social ecology rested on a belief that capitalism had tamed its dangerous contradictions. But the 2008 crash and subsequent turbulence shows their resurgence. To move forward, we need to adapt to a changed social and economic landscape.

In 2013, popular resistance succeeded in stopping the demolition of Gezi Park, one of the last public green spaces in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. Yet urban transformation and development projects have continued throughout the city at a dizzying pace.