Federalization of Syria

Governorates and districts of Syria
Governorates and districts of Syria
Map of Syrian Civil War
Syrian Civil War frontlines
Map of ethno-religious composition in Syria
Ethno-religious composition (1976)
De facto cantons of Rojava (2016)
Cantons the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava (2016):
Afrin Canton (orange), Kobanî Canton (red), Jazira Canton (green), and Shahba region (purple).

The Federalization of Syria is a scenario to end the Syrian Civil War.[1][2][3][4][5] In the broadest sense, it means turning the highly centralized Syrian Arab Republic into a federal republic with autonomous subdivisions. Many powers and actors involved in the Syrian Civil War have entertained the idea of "federal division", not least among them Russia, the United States, and United Nations representatives.[3] President Bashar al-Assad has not ruled out the possibility of a federal democratic state of Syria. In particular Turkey is strongly hostile towards the idea of a federalization of Syria, because it fears possible repercussions for its own highly centralized state.

Due to the fact that federalization would more or less follow ethnic and possibly also religious-sectarian lines, it has been dismissed as "division of the country" and "Balkanization" by its opponents.[2][4] Mainstream institutions of the Syrian opposition based in Turkey or Qatar like the Syrian National Council and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces have consistently rejected the idea of federalization,[3] while in particular Kurds in Syria have promoted the idea.[3] The Egypt based opposition party Syria's Tomorrow Movement takes an intermediate position.[6][7]

On 17 March 2016, the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava was unilaterally declared a federation of autonomous cantons modelled after the Cantons of Switzerland, namely Afrin Canton, Jazira Canton and Kobanî Canton as well as Shahba region. The federation is considered by its protagonists to be a model for Syria as a whole.[8] The move was dismissed by the Syrian government and disapproved by Turkey and the US.[9]

In September 2016, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, came out in an interview as one of the first regional politicians taking a public stand for the federalization of Syria. He said that the establishment of a federal system in Syria would "guarantee to preserve the institutions and unity" and that a federal system would be "the most appropriate solution and will protect the country from destruction."[10]

In October 2016, a Russian initiative for federalization with a focus on northern Syria was reported, which at its core called to turn the existing institutions of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava into legitimate institutions of Syria; also reported was its rejection for the time being by the Syrian government.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Michael O'Hanlon (3 September 2015). "How will Syria's war end? Other civil wars suggest an answer.". Washington Post.
  2. 1 2 "Is partitioning Syria a viable option?". Global Risk Insights.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Syria civil war: Key powers 'consider federal division'". Al Jazeera. March 2016.
  4. 1 2 "US, Israel Consider 'Balkanization' of Syria: Coalition Source". Syrian Observer.
  5. ↑ Zeina Karam And Dan Perry, The Associated Press (29 September 2015). "Partitioning Syria may be the only answer to a devastating civil war with no end in sight". National Post.
  6. ↑ "Agreement for the future of Syria". ANF. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Unlikely partners join forces to lead by example in Syriaa". Al-Monitor. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "ANALYSIS: 'This is a new Syria, not a new Kurdistan'". MiddleEastEye. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Syria conflict: Kurds declare federal system". BBC News. 17 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "أمين جامعة الدول العربية: النظام الفدرالي هو الحل الأنسب لسوريا". ARA News. 28 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Syria rejects Russian proposal for Kurdish federation". Al-Monitor. 24 October 2016.

External links

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