"In this fascinating and timely book, Amy Austin Holmes puts a different spin on the Kurdish-led social experiment in north and east Syria. Insightful and provocative, the book highlights a secular/democratic alternative that carries the potential to counter the rising tide of religious movements in the Middle East." -- Mehmet Gurses, Professor of Political Science, Florida Atlantic University"While the Kurdish-led battle against ISIS was recognized by 82 countries, yet why have none of these countries then recognized the ensuing statelet of Rojava? This very well written book based on original research in the region very ably analyzes the historical genealogy of Rojava, including the significant roles women and minorities play in the body politic. A must read for all interested in nation and state formation in the Middle East and elsewhere." -- Fatma Müge Göçek, Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan"For almost a decade, Washington has battled the extremist Islamic State along with Syrian Kurds. Holmes, through her on the ground meticulous research, sheds a unique light of the complex history, organization and successes of this hitherto misconstrued 'nation.' She brings to life the women and men who have sacrificed to protect, against all odds, a diverse set of populations and themselves from powerful states and terror groups. This is a must-read guide to them.

" -- Henri J. Barkey, Cohen Professor of International Relations, Lehigh University, and adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies, Council of Foreign Relations"In this book, Amy Austin Holmes combines the keen gaze of an academic with the very relatable first-person narrative of a travel writer. Anyone who ever wanted to see past the headlines and better understand what has really been happening in northeast Syria since 2011 should read this. Dr Holmes has crisscrossed the region back and forth during the past decade, speaking extensively with and surveying Kurds, Arabs, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and the leadership of a wide array of autonomous bodies in northeast Syria. Whether layperson or expert on the region, no one will be able to put this book down without having learned a good deal they did not know before." -- David Romano, Thomas G. Strong Professor of Middle East Politics, Missouri State University"A monument to victim agency and intersectional solidarity, this book combines ground-breaking field research with historical insights. Amy Austin Holmes powerfully demonstrates how seeds of state-building buried a century ago on Mount Ararat are budding today in Northern Syria.

Challenging nationalism as the dominant frame of understanding the region, this book unpacks how the scars of history can serve as impetus for collaborative governance in the time of adversity." -- Khatchig Mouradian, Columbia University, and author of The Resistance Network: The Armenian Genocide and Humanitarianism in Ottoman Syria, 1915-1918"The significance of this book cannot be overstated. It stands as essential reading for policy-makers and practitioners engaged in policy matters concerning Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Additionally, academics and analysts seeking a nuanced, fieldwork-based understanding of events in northeastern Syria and its surrounding areas will undoubtedly benefit from its invaluable insights and timely analysis." -- Federico Manfredi Firmian, The Middle East Journal"The significance of this book cannot be overstated. It stands as essential reading for policy-makers and practitioners engaged in policy matters concerning Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Additionally, academics and analysts seeking a nuanced, fieldwork-based understanding of events in northeastern Syria and its surrounding areas will undoubtedly benefit from its invaluable insights and timely analysis." -- Federico Manfredi Firmian, The Middle East Journal.