Why Federalism Is a Bad Idea for

Radwan Ziadeh

March 13, 2017 In the middle of the discussion about transition of struggle between states or provinces and the in Syria, Russia proposed the idea of a federal federal government. This is not the case is Syria; republic, according to deputy foreign minister in fact, it is just the opposite. There is no history Sergei Ryabkov. Could this choice be the best of conflict by any of the various provinces with political solution to the crisis in Syria? autonomous administration; therefore, the division became purely administrative and not This Russian position gave a boost to the political. Democratic Union Party (Partiya Yekîtiya Demokratîk, or PYD), which not only proposed, When Syria was under the French mandate, unilaterally, a federal system for Syria, but also France established the “Syrian Federation” in declared self-autonomy for a Kurdish region 1922, which included what were then the states called Rojava in the summer of 2013, where the of and and the autonomous party maintains control. Alawite territory. Subhi al-Khalidi was elected president of the federation. The , The Syrians have already had a long and rich however, rejected the idea, and while working debate about the transition and which political to achieve their independence, they sought to system they should adopt in the future— establish a "United Syria." Even the Syrian assuming the Geneva peace talks lead to a anthem emphasizes the idea of unity in the meaningful outcome so they can transfer these Syrian state. The overwhelming majority of ideas into action on the ground in Syria. Syrians appear to continue to believe in such a unity today. They perceive federalism, on the What kind of government will be created and other hand, as paving the way for partition. This implemented in post-civil war Syria will be very may prove to be untrue; however, there is in fact important; it can also be the key to the solution no meaningful history of federal thinking in of the crisis in Syria today. According to some Syria, and the PYD is the only party that experts, federalism is the only system that could advocates for the concept. save the country. As is well known, federalism is a system of governance implemented by The Kurds and Federalism in Syria America’s founding fathers as a means of settling historical conflicts between different The Kurds have not had a unified voice states. It was also a way to join the union in such throughout their history in Syria since the a manner that engenders divided sovereignty. establishment of the first ethnically based Kurdish political party in 1957. Their situation The situation of federalism in Canada and worsened after the beginning of the Syrian Germany does not differ from that of the United uprising in 2011, when they divided into two States. This suggests that countries that have political groups: the Kurdish National Council adopted the federal system have had a history (KNC) and the PYD, which is the Syrian version

1

of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Protection Units managed to take over huge Turkey. The PYD gradually eliminated the areas of Al-Hasaka and the Aleppo countryside. presence of the KNC in their area by using The battle against ISIL in Ayn al-Arab, or different tactics, including assassination and Kobani, from September 2014 to January 2015, kidnapping. This pushed all the KNC leaders to was the turning point for the PYD; the Obama move into Iraqi Kurdistan or at least to stay Administration found in PYD a strategic ally on silent about these practices. which it could rely in the fight against ISIL in Syria, without considering the atrocities the The PYD in Syria benefited the most from the Syrian government was committing against the transformation of the Syrian revolution into an Syrian people or the transition unfolding in the armed struggle. It then took advantage of the country. Both the United States and the PYD international war on terrorism—especially found themselves in an alliance to serve their against ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the interests: Washington’s focus was on Levant)—in Syria. This is why, from the eliminating ISIL from Syria, and the PYD’s aim beginning, it established a well-armed and well- was to grab more territory to augment the area trained militia, the People's Protection Units, of its autonomous region of Rojava. which constitute the military wing of the PYD. Therefore, the United States was silent about the This Syrian branch of the PKK is also present in accusation that the People’s Protection Units Turkey and has fought the Free were committing crimes against the Arab (FSA) and the other factions of the armed Syrian villages, which were leveled to the ground and opposition in a series of battles, ending with a their inhabitants were displaced and robbed (as truce that forced most of the FSA factions to was done in Tel Abyad). These actions allowed withdraw from Ras Al-Ayn—in northeastern the PYD to connect al-Qamishli to Kobani (or Syria, on the border with Turkey—to control the the Ayn al-Arab district). city of Al-Shaddadi in 2012. Members of the PYD were widely accused of The Kurds in Syria were subjected to collective ethnic cleansing and dislodgement crimes punishment and discrimination under the targeting the Arabs. Tens of Arab-inhabited current Syrian regime since 1963, and for villages were wiped off the map in northeast decades were the largest ethnic minority in Syria in 2014 and 2015 in preparation for Syria lacking basic rights and recognition. For autonomous regions that seem unlikely the PYD, the federal system is the only one that geographically and demographically. could protect the rights of the Kurds in Syria. In summer 2013, the People’s Protection Units With great support from the United States achieved a victory over the Al-Nusra Front (an under the Obama Administration and its Al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria, now known as international alliance in 2015, the People’s Fath al-Sham) in Ras al-Ayn. Right after that, the leadership of the Kurdish Democratic Alliance 445 out of 1,717 in Hasaka. There are suggested creating a confederal entity that additional Kurdish communities in the represents autonomy in three regions in far north of Aleppo, in Kobani and the southern Syria: Qamishli, Ayn al-Arab, and villages surrounding it to about 15 Afrin. This suggestion was rejected quickly by kilometers south and west of the city. Turkey and by most of the Syrian opposition Others live in Arab villages and in Afrin groups. And even though most Arabs, in the far northwestern parts of Aleppo. including Christians and Kurds, refused the Kurds do not constitute the majority of idea, the autonomy plan was declared officially the population in any region of Syria on December 21, 2014, in addition to the compared to the Arabs surrounding formation of a regional government and a them. The Arab residents of Hasaka constitution. The leadership of Iraqi Kurdistan differ in their attitude toward the Syrian refused this autonomy plan completely, stating regime and refuse the idea of that it aims to exclude all other Kurdish parts. establishing a Kurdish entity in the The strongest reaction came from the Syrian country. National Coalition (the main Syrian opposition 3. There is no geographical connection group), which declared its refusal to the between the places of residence of Kurds Kurdish move and described the PYD as the in Syria, as Kurds are scattered “enemy of the Syrian revolution." throughout the country. For example, the distance between Qamishli and Kobani is Why Federalism Is the Wrong Option in Syria about 300 kilometers, and there are no Kurds living in more than half of that In examining the Kurdish case in Syria, it is area in between them. Similarly, the important to consider the following important distance between Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) points: and Afrin is more than 100 kilometers, 1. Kurds make up between 8 and 10 percent and this region is inhabited by Arabs and of Syria's population and represent the Turkmen. For the PYD to declare self- biggest non-Arab minority in Syria autonomy in their three cantons, they today. The Kurdish population is much would have to connect the area larger in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. There are geographically—this is basically what only about 1.6 million Syrian Kurds out the PYD did after they took control of Tel of 23 million Syrians; therefore, it is not Abyad, but when they tried to do the logical for them to impose their agenda same in the northern Syrian city of Azaz, or political system on the Syrian people Turkish troops intervened quickly and as a whole. stopped them. Further, it is difficult for 2. Most of the Syrian Kurds live in Hasaka Turkey to accept a Kurdish entity as its Province. Kurdish villages number about neighbor, especially now that Turkey has

3

declared the PKK and all its affiliates, The fight against ISIL should not reflect any such as the PYD, terrorist organizations. demographic changes on the ground in Syria. 4. Building on all of the above, it is Eliminating ISIL in Syria requires the important to consider how secure the participation of Arab groups; this is why any Kurds feel about their rights within a support to the PYD should not alienate the Arab political system that is accepted by all tribes in the area, and it should assure them that Syrians. The Syrian opposition has the new Syria will offer full rights to all citizens pledged to give the Kurds their civil without any discrimination based on ethnicity rights and to treat all Syrians equally in or religion. It is almost impossible to vanquish a terms of rights and duties. To be sure, terrorist organization like ISIL without unity. any political solution in Syria should The people living in Hasaka should have strong include the Kurds and assure their rights support and representation to become a potent and citizenship. At the same time, the power against ISIL. United States should not promise or support any type of autonomy to the The Syrian people have experienced Kurds in northern Syria. The Syrian innumerable sacrifices and casualties. Looking people should develop their own to the future, it is clear that there can be no real democratic political system that includes peace and coexistence without national feelings full rights to all minorities in Syria, that reflect bonding and cooperation across all including Kurds. areas and social and political groups in the country. The Syrian state and its political It is not clear yet how the Trump regime, in their current form, are no longer Administration will handle the crisis in Syria. acceptable. The depth and breadth of the There is no grand strategy developed yet, changes needed should not hinder the goal of a despite the talk about safe zones inside Syria. It Syrian entity that unites all Syrians under a is not clear yet where the Syrian Kurds fit into democratic national state, one that respects this strategy. everyone’s ethnic identity, rights, and dignity.