Egypt expresses 'deep dissatisfaction' to Netherlands over embassy attack    Global pressure mounts as Gaza fighting intensifies and death toll surges    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    At TICAD, Egypt's education minister signs pacts with Casio, SAPIX    Egypt holds special importance for our investments across diverse sectors: Japanese minister    Cairo, Tokyo sign LOI to expand educational cooperation, support for persons with disabilities    Madbouly invites Japanese firms to establish industrial zone in SCZONE    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Al-Sisi meets Qatar PM, Bahrain security adviser to discuss Gaza crisis, regional stability    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Beware of federalism in Syria
Published in Daily News Egypt on 24 - 03 - 2016

When James Madison and his fellow founding fathers of America came up with the idea of federalism, they did not intend it to be based on a religious or ethnic basis. American federalism was based on full citizenship and freedom, legally and culturally, regardless of race or religion.
The Syrian dilemma is that its federalism would be based on a sectarian and ethnic basis, and this can be deduced from the current battles between the conflicting powers on the ground.
Foreign Policy magazine published a report on this issue, stating that some consider federalism as a solution to the Syrian crisis. However, the negotiators in Geneva have good reason to avoid this solution.
Federalism is always seen a solution in any peace process that follows an armed conflict. Sometimes, it is put forth by international negotiators as the best ruling system to include the various ethnic groups and warring parties that may be afraid of a sole group gaining control over the whole country.
According to the Foreign Policy report, the Syrian Kurds announced a plan last week to turn the area under their control in northern Syria into a federal zone, giving them greater autonomy.
In the past few days, a source at the United Nations revealed that Russia and unidentified Western powers are considering the federal solution to the conflict in Syria. According to the magazine, Russia views federalism as a means to maintain the Al-Assad regime's control over at least the areas inhabited by a majority of Alawites, including Russia's strategic naval base in Tartus.
The report indicates that Western powers view federalism as the only realistic solution for a country that has been already fragmented into many areas controlled by armed groups with varying orientations. For those who fear the division of Syria, federalism seems to be the best solution they can look forward to.
However, one needs only to look to Libya to recognise how discussions of federalism led to the destruction of the country. Shortly after the fall of Gaddafi, Libyans were divided into supporters and opponents of the idea of federalism. This division has contributed to fuelling the conflict, and complicated the process of drafting the current constitution, for no justifiable reason.
The report also indicated that some believe that federalism would grant independence for the federal parties, which is more likely to rapidly lead to a complete separation, rather than uniting them together.
The report added that the negotiators from the Syrian government and opposition rejected the idea of federalism because it will lead to the division of the country. It is also likely that Turkey will do anything to prevent the federal system from being established in Syria, fearing a similar outcome in Iraq, after the Kurds gained autonomy in the northern Iraqi region. In addition, the term federalism itself has created diplomatic complications.
The negotiators do not wish to carry the burden of applying a specific form of the state, which could risk further dividing the negotiating parties into blocs of opponents or supporters. In fact, there is no need to give a name to any solution being negotiated.
There are other grounds to resist the idea of federalism in Syria. Federalism means drawing boundaries to create federal regions, and Syrians fear that these will be the same boundaries defined by the warring parties.
The drawing of new boundaries may also lead to dividing the country on ethnic or religious bases, creating a sectarian state that the Syrians reject. Although it is not clear what the international parties intend to do, allowing the great powers such as Russia or the US to draw the boundaries will have the same dire effects on the region caused by the Sykes-Picot agreement in 1916 that led to the creation of the new Middle East.
The best starting point for any negotiations is to recognise that there is no specific template for the state. Indeed, there is no state nowadays that fully enjoys a non-centralised system. Rather, in reality there are numerous forms of decentralisation.
Moataz Bellah Abdel-Fattah is an Egyptian professor of political science. He previously served as an adviser to the prime minister of Egypt, and professor of political science at both Cairo University and Central Michigan University.


Clic here to read the story from its source.