Federations are divided into two categories—national federations aiming at national homogeneity and decentralisation (like the USA) and multinational/multiethnic federations aiming at uniting societies that differ in ancestry, language and culture (like Switzerland). According to Mathieu and Guénette, certain conditions are needed for the success of multinational federations—recognition of equal rights and status, internal self-determination (like possession of veto rights), external self-determination (like the right to secede) and fiscal autonomy. According to McGarry and O’Leary the key causes for the breakdown of multinational federations are coercion, maltreatment of smaller parties, distributive conflicts and attempts to centralise the federation. Multinational federations come into being through a foundation treaty and not through decentralisation or devolution. In my experience, the following are additionally needed for the establishment and sustainability of multinational federations: strong mutual need, mutual trust, balance of power, a “mutually hurting stalemate” to induce resolution, use of opportunities/catalysts to transform the conflict and popular support. Having usurped the bi-communal RoC, GCs have been using coercion against TCs, refusing to acknowledge their equal rights and status, insisting on devolution and indivisible single sovereignty, rejecting both consensus decision-making and the right to secede. These have distanced TCs from federalism and have induced them to strive for a solution aimed at a cooperative relationship between the two existing States based on their sovereign equality.