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Title: Tekmîl Author: Philip Argeș O’Keeffe Date: August 11, 2018 Language: en Topics: democratic confederalism, criticism, critique, Komun Academy Source: Retrieved on 2019-10-10 from https://komun-academy.com/2018/08/11/tekmil-creating-a-culture-of-constructive-criticism/
In the existing societal structures dictated by capitalist modernity, it
is very rare that we find means by which we can facilitate open and
honest discussions. Whether it’s in the workplace, in schools, even
between friends and families, we are restricted by social constructs
which inhibit our ability to express our perspectives, hear those of
others and engage in meaningful, constructive discussions.
The concept of constructive criticism is incredibly challenging for so
many people. Many people struggle with receiving criticism. Perhaps this
is due to the narcissism and egoism which is encouraged by the
competitive and individualistic nature of capitalist society. However,
personally, I find that the most difficult part of constructive
criticism is the act of giving criticism. The fear of conflict or
rejection can be paralytic. The big question that arises is that of why
does criticism evoke fear?
Perhaps the issue is that we do not have a culture of constructive
criticism. Capitalist modernity does not foster equality nor mutual
trust. It divides us and forces a upon us a hyper competitive culture
built upon internal and external deception and facades. In this system,
criticism is not seen as a means by which we can improve ourselves and
each other but rather as a means by which we can attack and destroy our
competition, our enemies, our fellow humans.
It can be difficult to imagine that an alternative exists. For many
people, the capitalist system can appear so overwhelming and oppressive
that effecting change can appear impossible. The degree of competition
and mistrust is so great that people might often think that by allowing
themselves to trust their fellow humans would merely make them
vulnerable to imminent attack. Personally, before I came to Rojava I
held these very same suspicions.
Upon arriving in Rojava, some of the first of many revolutionary
concepts that I was introduced to were those of Hevaltî and Tekmîl.
Tekmîl roughly translates to “report”. On its face it sounds fairly
mundane, however a more conceptual definition would be that of
revolutionary constructive criticism. Tekmîl typically follow up
everything such as military operations, training sessions, civil
projects, or simple daily tasks. These sessions can be called at any
time by anyone in either the civil or military structures in Rojava.
The structure of Tekmîl is based on giving and receiving critiques and
self-critiques. The process is based on the foundations of HevaltĂ®.
HevaltĂ® roughly translates to friendship or comradeship. It is the idea
that we work together, we help each other, we share everything from the
tangible to the intangible not because we expect something in return but
simply because we are comrades, that we are humans living, struggling
and experiencing life together, that we are sharing the same purpose of
trying to advance the collective wellbeing. It is the idea that we can
trust and believe in each other and that we need not fear ulterior
intention.
By establishing the culture of HevaltĂ® as the basis of revolutionary
life we create the alternative environment and society conducive to
constructive criticism and the means by which, together, we improve
ourselves and the collective. This is critical to Tekmîl because it
allows us to respectfully give criticisms and more importantly, accept,
absorb and address the criticisms in an efficient manner, free of ego,
fear, mistrust or conflict.
In order to prevent digressions or polemics, the Tekmîl format suggests
that each participant has the opportunity to give critiques and
self-critiques without any response from any of the other participants.
It is also suggested that the same critique of a participant should
avoid being repeated during the Tekmîl once it has already been given,
the idea being aimed at avoiding the perception of a participant being
singled out and attacked by the group. This format fosters a more
efficient, disciplined and professional means by which each participant
can contribute. Futhermore, it alleviates the fear of conflict that so
often can prevent a person from expressing themselves. Finally, Tekmîl
will close with the opportunity for each of the participants to make
suggestions for anything from improvements, projects, etc.
The idea of Tekmîl not only creates a safe environment for constructive
criticism and allows us to work together to improve ourselves and each
other but it also acts as a means by which we can encourage
accountability and prevent stagnation. It is rooted in the aspect of the
philosophy of democratic confederalism which emphasizes humility,
open-mindedness and progress in all aspects of revolutionary life.