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A
autogestión (self-management) refers to the collective and horizontal organization of social, economic, and political life without hierarchical authority or external control. Rooted in principles of mutual aid, direct democracy, and autonomy, it emphasizes that communities, workplaces, and associations should be directly managed by those who participate in them, rather than by states, bosses, or bureaucracies. Autogestión rejects capitalist and statist forms of centralization, seeking instead to create federated networks of self-organized groups where decisions are made through assemblies and consensus. As both a practice and a political horizon, it embodies the anarchist vision of a society based on equality, freedom, and solidarity. +
'''Autonomy embodies a radical break from hierarchical systems of power and control, emphasizing self-determination''' and communal governance. +
C
Comunalidad, as articulated by Jaime Martínez Luna and Floriberto Díaz in Oaxaca, is both a worldview and a practice that describes how Indigenous communities organize life collectively beyond the frameworks of the state and capitalism. Rather than being a simple synonym for community, it refers to a way of being and knowing rooted in territory, collective work (tequio), shared celebrations (fiesta), communal governance through assemblies, and the reciprocal use of land and natural resources. For Martínez Luna and Díaz, comunalidad is not an abstract concept but an everyday practice of autonomy: it affirms that life is possible only in relation to others and to the territory, rejecting individualism, private property, and imposed development models. In this sense, comunalidad is both an epistemology and a political praxis that resists colonial and modern impositions by centering collective decision-making, reciprocity, and interdependence as the basis of social life. +
D
The term refers to a political concept theorized by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan about a system of democratic self-organization with the features of a confederation based on the principles of autonomy, direct democracy, political ecology, feminism ("Jineology"), multiculturalism, self-defense, self-governance and elements of a cooperative economy. Influenced by social ecology, libertarian municipalism, Middle Eastern history and general state theory, Öcalan presents the concept as a political solution to Kurdish national aspirations, as well as other fundamental problems in countries in the region deeply rooted in class society, and as a route to freedom and democratization for people around the world +
E
Eco-: Derived from the Greek word "oikos" (οἶκος), meaning "house," "home," or "dwelling," it refers to ecological systems, the environment, and the relationship between organisms and their surroundings.
Territorial: From the Latin "territorium," which refers to land, a district, or a region. In this context, it refers to specific geographic areas and their land-based features.
Internationalism: Coined by Jeremy Bentham around 1780, this term combines Latin inter- ("between") and national. It describes a political principle that promotes cooperation and understanding between different nations, moving beyond national interests to address shared concerns.
When combined, "ecoterritorial internationalism" suggests a movement or doctrine that seeks to address ecological and territorial issues on an international scale, emphasizing cooperation between different regions and nations to manage shared environmental resources and land-based concerns. +
Las energías comunitarias en América Latina constituyen una práctica transformadora que busca garantizar la vida digna y la permanencia en los territorios frente a los impactos del modelo energético dominante, marcado por exclusión, despojo y dependencia. No se reducen a la electricidad ni a la técnica, sino que abarcan una visión integral de la energía como tejido social, cultural y político. Su origen está en comunidades, principalmente rurales, que han respondido a las secuelas de proyectos extractivos e hidroeléctricos, creando alternativas descentralizadas y respetuosas con la vida. Estas iniciativas se basan en principios como la solidaridad, el autoconocimiento, la desprivatización del saber y el buen vivir, promoviendo autonomía, salud y mejores condiciones de trabajo. En la práctica incluyen tecnologías y saberes diversos: biodigestores, sistemas solares, agroecología, bioconstrucción o mingas. Más allá de métricas técnicas, su alcance radica en forjar un modelo energético justo, sustentable y popular capaz de enfrentar la crisis civilizatoria y climática. +
Utopia: Coined by Thomas More in 1516 for his book, he chose the word utopia, which sounds similar to the Greek eutopia. However, the spelling he used was a deliberate play on words: ou-topos (no place). While eutopia means a good, achievable place, More intended his creation of utopia to mean "no place," thereby highlighting the unlikelihood of a truly perfect society. The term "eutopia" is still used to mean a country or place of ideal perfection, and can also refer to a society that is achievable rather than purely imaginary. +
J
"Jineoloji is a river finding its own way. The ideas of every woman, her study, the data she finds, the secrets her mother whispers in her ear, the power of interpretation, these are all drops that strengthen the flow of this river. Its most beautiful aspect is its spontateous enlightenment of social blindness. Jineoloji is ensuring that knowledge conveyed to it is carried to society. Furthermore, jineoloji is embellishing research in all fields, whether economy, health or history."
Taken form: https://jineoloji.eu/en/2018/12/14/what-is-jineoloji/ +
K
Kai-: A prefix indicating agency, meaning the person or people who perform the action.
Tiaki: The verb meaning to care for, guard, protect, conserve, keep, or watch over.
-tanga: A suffix that transforms a verb or noun into a noun representing an abstract concept, practice, or state of being.
Therefore, kaitiakitanga literally means "the circumstance of watching or guarding" or "the practice of guardianship," embodying the role and responsibility of a kaitiaki (guardian or caretaker). +
Kota: Means "one" or "singular," emphasizing a foundational element or unity.
Tahi: Signifies "together" or "united," indicating the act of coming together.
-tanga: A nominalizing suffix that denotes a state, quality, or action, similar to "-ness" in English. +
M
Masling is a special word used to praise the soundscape of waterfalls and the swarming of honeybees—sounds that inspired the legendary group singing Pasibutbut of the Bunun Isbukun people. Over time, it has come to serve as a unique metaphor and symbol for the highest inner qualities of a person: an unconditional calm and creativity that reframes difficulties into potential solutions, and the capacity to turn a world vision into action—transforming an unjust world order while sustaining dynamic balance and dialectical harmony.
Masling is a special word used to praise the soundscape of waterfalls and the swarming of honeybees—sounds that inspired the legendary group singing Pasibutbut of the Bunun Isbukun people. Over time, it has come to serve as a unique metaphor and symbol for the highest inner qualities of a person: an unconditional calm and creativity that reframes difficulties into potential solutions, and the capacity to turn a world vision into action—transforming an unjust world order while sustaining dynamic balance and dialectical harmony. +
P
Breakdown of the Word
pakiki-: A prefix in Filipino that denotes the act of doing something together or participating in an activity, similar to "co-" or "inter-" in English.
baka: A root word that means "battle of two minds".
Cultural Significance
Collective Action: Pakikibaka emphasizes that struggle is not an individualistic act but one that arises from a deep sense of belonging and interconnectedness among Filipinos.
Historical Context: It reflects the nation's history of fighting for freedom, dignity, and social justice against colonizers and oppressive regimes.
Beyond Physical Confrontation: The term encompasses not only physical uprisings and revolutions but also the moral and ideological battles faced by Filipinos. +
The pluriverse is a concept that challenges the idea of a single, universal world defined by Western modernity, proposing instead a vision of many worlds coexisting in dignity and difference. Rooted in decolonial, Indigenous, and postdevelopment thought, it affirms that no single worldview, ontology, or system of knowledge can claim universality. Rather than a fragmented relativism, the pluriverse emphasizes interconnectedness, reciprocity, and the coexistence of multiple ways of being, knowing, and organizing life. It has become a key concept in political ecology and radical alternatives, encapsulated in the Zapatista expression “a world where many worlds fit”, and serves as a framework for imagining and enacting alternatives to capitalism, colonialism, and extractivist development. +
R
Radical
Historical Roots: Draws from the concept of "radical democracy" developed by post-Marxist thinkers like Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe in the 1990s.
Meaning: Signifies a fundamental, deep, and uncompromising approach to change, as opposed to superficial reforms. It suggests an inclusive, continuous, and reflexive process of expanding equality and liberty.
Application: In this context, "radical" implies a radical extension of democracy beyond representative structures into areas of production and consumption, and a fundamental re-evaluation of political and economic systems.
Ecological
Meaning: Pertains to the recognition of the interconnectedness of human societies and natural ecosystems. It emphasizes living within the functional integrity of ecosystems and respecting biological diversity.
Historical Context: It acknowledges the limitations of economic growth models that disregard ecological limits, as highlighted in the influential "The Limits to Growth" report of 1972.
Application: Implies an economics and governance model that is mindful of ecological limits, seeks to democratize production and consumption, and strives for ecological resilience.
Democracy
Meaning: In its broader sense, democracy refers to a system of governance where power rests with the people.
Application: In the context of "radical ecological democracy," it extends beyond electoral processes to include direct, grassroots participation in decision-making at local and bioregional levels. It emphasizes decentralization and collective action, as exemplified by community assemblies and local governance structures.
Together, these terms form a framework for a transformative approach that seeks to move beyond unsustainable and inequitable development models by integrating ecological principles with expanded democratic participatio +
S
Salugpungan, meaning “unity” in the Talaingod Manobo language, is both a philosophy and a practice that guides the Lumad peoples of Mindanao in their struggle for land, life, and self-determination. Rooted in collective farming, rituals, schools, and everyday acts of cooperation, salugpungan reflects how survival and resistance are inseparable. Catherine “Katkat” Dalon recalls learning unity as a child in Lumad schools, where lessons combined literacy with communal practices like sharing food, planting seeds, and caring for children. Historically, the term also names the movement born in the 1990s against logging corporations and state militarization, when Lumad leaders and communities organized to defend the Pantaron Range and their ancestral territories. From this struggle emerged community schools that wove together education and resistance. Despite repression, closures, and the loss of teachers and leaders, salugpungan endures as a moral and political force: a reminder that victory is certain when strength is united. +
Social ecology is a holistic theory dealing with social history, the human species, and our role in the natural world. Its proponents advocate for a restructuring of society from the bottom up, replacing hierarchy, exploitation, and homogenization with communal autonomy, interdependence, and radical ecological humanism. Social ecology is distinctive for its argument in favor of direct democracy as an expression of ecological politics; that direct democracy is “ecological” both in function and form. In this way, social ecologists ultimately view political revolution and ecological evolution as one and the same process. The 20th-century thinker Murray Bookchin dedicated himself to cultivating this perspective for many decades, incorporating elements of dialectical Marxism, classical anarchism, anthropology, urban studies, technology studies, ecological design, and political philosophy. The following entry introduces the background, key themes, and practical examples of this philosophy and then points to several emerging tensions, limits, and opportunities. +
Sociocracy is a governance system designed to guide collective and individual decision-making through shared power, non-coercive processes, and alignment with an organization’s purpose. Originating with Dutch engineer Gerard Endenburg and influenced by Quaker decision-making, pacifism, natural systems, and cybernetics, sociocracy’s core principle is that those doing the work should make the related decisions. Its structure relies on autonomous, interconnected “circles” that hold decision-making authority over specific domains, ensuring that the division of labor aligns with the division of governance. Practices such as double linking between circles and consent-based decision-making create a distributed, non-hierarchical system in which all voices are heard and power is balanced. +
West African Context
People and Language: "Susu" is the name of an ethnic group in West Africa, specifically in parts of Mali, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. It also refers to the Mande language spoken by these people.
Term of Endearment: In some African cultures, "Susu" is a term of endearment, often associated with sweetness or affection, and is used as a nickname for loved ones.
Asian Context
Indonesian Word for Milk: In Indonesian and other Austronesian languages, "susu" is the word for "milk," deriving from Proto-Austronesian and Proto-Malayo-Polynesian roots.
Financial/Social Term
Savings Club: In West Africa and the Caribbean, "susu" refers to an informal cooperative savings scheme or club where members contribute regularly, and the accumulated funds are distributed to members in turn. +
T
Ta Madok Maka—translated as “I help you, you help me”—is a core philosophical and moral principle of the Indigenous Karen (K’nyaw) people, embodying reciprocity, mutual respect, and interconnected wellbeing among humans, nature, and the spirit world. +