Federalization of Syria

This article is about the recent proposal to create a federal Syria. For the earlier period of federalism, see Syrian Federation.
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History
Arab League initiative I2011
Arab League initiative II2011–12
Churkin peace plan2012
Kofi Annan peace plan (Geneva I)2012
Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan2012
U.S.–Russia peace proposal (2013)2013
Geneva II Mideast peace conference2014
Staffan de Mistura peace plan2015
Zabadani agreement2015
Vienna talks2015
Geneva III2016
US-Russia ceasefire proposal (2016)2016
Geneva IV2017
Idlib demilitarization2018
Northern Syria Buffer Zone2019
Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone2019
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Syrian-Turkish normalization2022–24
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Ethno-religious composition (1976)
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The regions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

The federalization of Syria has been controversially proposed as a possible solution to end the Syrian Civil War.[1][2][3][4][5] In the broadest sense, it means turning the 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, United Nations representatives, the United States[3] and Israel.[6] Bashar al-Assad has publicly rejected the idea of federalism, asserting that the Arab majority in Syria is opposed to such proposals.[a] Most of the neighbouring countries in the region have also dismissed the proposal, including the members of the Arab League and Turkey.[12][13]

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] Most factions of the Syrian opposition, such as the Syrian National Council and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, have consistently rejected the idea of federalization.[14] On the other hand, Kurdish opposition parties have strongly promoted the idea.[3] The Egypt-based opposition party Syria's Tomorrow Movement takes an intermediate position.[15][16]

  1. ^ Michael O'Hanlon (3 September 2015). "How will Syria's war end? Other civil wars suggest an answer". Washington Post.
  2. ^ a b "Is partitioning Syria a viable option?". Global Risk Insights.
  3. ^ a b c "Syria civil war: Key powers 'consider federal division'". Al Jazeera. March 2016.
  4. ^ a b "US, Israel Consider 'Balkanization' of Syria: Coalition Source". Syrian Observer. 13 July 2015.
  5. ^ Zeina Karam; Dan Perry (29 September 2015). "Partitioning Syria may be the only answer to a devastating civil war with no end in sight". National Post.
  6. ^ "The Question of Federalism in Syria". SETA. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  7. ^ Sheikho, Kamal (1 April 2016). "Who opposes Syrian Kurdish self-rule?". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021.
  8. ^ Said, Nebehay, Rodi, Stephanie (16 March 2016). "Kurdish moves on federalism cloud Syria peace drive". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Arafat, Hisham (31 March 2016). "President Assad: 'Most Syrian Kurds reject federalism'". Kurdistan 24. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Assad: I cannot give Kurds federalism". rudaw. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Federal region of "Rojava-North Syria" proclaimed". Nationalia. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Arab League rejects Kurd-led moves for federal Syria". Ahramonline. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  13. ^ Ziadeh, Radwan (13 March 2017). "Why Federalism Is a Bad Idea for Syria". Arab Center Washington DC. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.
  14. ^ Sources:
  15. ^ "Agreement for the future of Syria". ANF. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  16. ^ "Unlikely partners join forces to lead by example in Syriaa". Al-Monitor. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.


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