The Federal Solution to Ethnic Conflicts

Two thousand five was a watershed year in the contemporary history of Asian federalism. The formation of asymmetric federalism in Indonesia was marked by the granting of substantial autonomy to the Aceh people in the 2OO5 peace agreement. In the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 2OO5

Conflicts over ethnic homeland rule, the right to territorial autonomy, and even nation-statehood have been played out in Asia, where it has been debated whether federalism is the best system to reduce or contain ethnic conflicts. The international community has questioned whether the multinational federalism of Spain and Canada offers a successful model for Asia. It has also questioned whether underlying norms such as the right to territorial autonomy, the right to self-determination, and the right to remain unassimilated are universally acceptable.