The Federalization of Syria is a scenario to end the Syrian Civil War. 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. 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.