Capitalism is stuck in a structural crisis and losing legitimacy worldwide ― despite the claim that no alternatives exist. At the same time right-wing and reactionary movements o er themselves as alternatives.

But there are other ways than the seemingly only alternatives. In Rojava/North Syria it was possible not only to not take sides but to establish an own, “third way”. The building of a non-patriarchal system and a democratic economic order seems within reach and has the chance to establish itself permanently.

Such “third ways” are possible everywhere in the world. At our third conference we want to present, shed light on/examine and discuss them.

The third conference  is taking place around Easter (14―16 April) 2017 in Hamburg.

The past two conferences brought together not only leading intellectuals, but also gave young activists, students and scholars a chance to present their ideas. In this third conference we want to once again build bridges between all these and movements in Kurdistan and worldwide.

You may have participated in one of our past two conferences “Challenging Capitalist Modernity I: Al- ternative Concepts and the Kurdish Case” in 2012, “Challenging Capitalist Modernity II: Dissecting Capitalist Modernity – Building Democratic Confederalism” in 2015. For three days hundreds of stu- dents, intellectuals, activists and movements came together and discussed not only what they criticised, but also how and what they wanted to be. Many ideas from around the world and that of the Kurdish freedom movement came together to strengthen their practices.

We are excited to invite you to our third conference “Challenging Capitalist Modernity III: Uncovering Democratic Modernity – Resistance, Rebellion and Building the New”. is conference will take place again on the Easter weekend 14―16 April 2017 in Hamburg. In this third conference we will continue to focus on the critique of the capitalist modernity, but this year we will discuss the obstacles and how these obstacles can be overcome. us, the main theme of this year’s conference is the importance of be- ing organized and to be in solidarity.

We will not only immerse deeper in the problems, but also in the proposed solutions. This year we will continue with the tradition of Call for Papers, but additionally there will be working groups and work- shops. Please check the website for updated information on them.