ABSTRACT
The Kurdish struggle for autonomy has become an important focus for left-wing movements around the world. Under threat from both Daesh and state violence, attempts to establish democratic confederalism have received significant attention as embodying a possible alternative to neoliberalism. This chapter explores the construction of solidarity online on Facebook and the non-profit site Libcom. While Facebook offers the potential for a much broader reach, its terms of service and opaque algorithms (both of which are shaped by its commercial nature) constrain its use for solidarity efforts. Libcom, in contrast, is operated by a non-profit, volunteer, collective. However, solidarity efforts are constrained by the awareness of state surveillance, resource limitations, and the ways in which community norms shape discussion. We might imagine very different social media materialities which better support solidarity efforts: algorithms that privilege discussions around organizing material aid, or tools which more effectively and securely connect those wanting to visit Kurdish autonomous areas with those who might help them do so. However, as yet such visions have not materialized.
