CAUSES OF THE LIBYAN REVOLUTION
Not all revolutions occurred in the past. It is still possible for revolutions to take place in the modern world. In fact, recent revolutions include those of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. As with all revolutions, the Libyan revolution of 2011 was a result of a complex combination of factors occurring over many years. The following is a timeline of events leading up to the Libyan revolution and a summary of the causes.
1951
Libya declares its independence and is ruled by King Idris I. Libya had always been divided into three regions: Cyrenaica in the east, Tripolitania in the northwest, and Fezzan in the southwest (Libya Revolt of 2011). A long term hostility existed between Cyrenaica’s capital Benghazi and Tripolitania’s capital city Tripoli. This hostility grew when both regions fought for national leadership following independence in 1951. King Idris was from the Sanusi tribe and ruled from Cyrenaica (Bell and Witter). However, the three provinces are united under a constitutional monarchy, though tribal elites and provincial rulers maintain the a lot of power while the central federal system stays weak (Libya Revolt of 2011).
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1953
Libya is financially reliant on the West. Thus, the government of Libya makes an arrangement that lets Britain form a military base in Libya in return for aid (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1959
Important oil reserves are found in Libya, allowing revenues for a decade to transform society as most people from the country move to urban areas, increasing urban sprawl, urbanization grows and economic equality becomes much more obvious, particularly between the tribes and regions. Different groups, mostly young people no longer satisfied with Libya, are attracted to Arab nationalism and anti-imperialism. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser exemplifies these qualities (Libya Revolt of 2011). King Idris I however, was indifferent to the Arab nationalist movement, which wanted all Arab nations to stand in political unity.
1969
While King Idris I is in Turkey for medical reasons, a number of young military officers seize power in Libya and end Idris I‘s monarchy. The group was led by 27-year-old Muammar al-Qaddafi, who was a very strong Arab nationalist. After the overthrow, the main group of officers designated themselves as the Revolutionary Command Council. As a new governing body, the RCC was meant to collectively make decisions. However, with his strong presence and personality, Qaddafi becomes a dominant leader (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1970
Qaddafi is devotedly anti-Western. As a result, the Libyan government forces British and American military from their Libyan bases. The government also starts to take control of the country’s oil industry (Libya Revolt of 2011). Qaddafi also reinstates traditional Islamic laws.
1973
Qaddafi introduces his Third Universal Theory. This theory includes aspects of direct democracy, socialism, and nationalism, and will largely alter and reorganize Libyan society. Qaddafi created his Third Universal Theory instead of capitalism and communism, because he thought his people should govern directly instead of trhough elected representatives and state institutions. As a result, popular committees supplant thousands of government bureaucrats (Libya Revolt of 2011).
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1975
Qaddafi’s Green Book is the formal leader’s political philosophy, it was first published in 1975 and was intended reading for all Libyans even being included in the national curriculum.
1977
The second volume of The Green Book was published. The Qaddafi government starts an array of policies that limit private ownership and commerce in the country. From 1978-1981, housing, businesses, and real estate are taken control of by the government or seized and redeployed (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1979
The United States identifies Libya as promoting terrorism due to its backing of several radical militant groups. The US enacts economic sanctions, which are expanded on numerous occasions because of the growing confrontation during the 1980s (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1986
Libya bombs a West Berlin nightclub that many United States soldiers had visited. Following thisThe United States made air strikes on Tripoli and Banghāzī (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1987
The Qaddafi government starts reducing some of the restrictions on private ownership, because of the country’s faltering economy due to sanctions and decreasing oil prices (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1988-1991
270 people are killed as a result of the bombing of commercial airline flight Pan Am flight 103, which was traveling over Scotland. Two Libyans are charged of this bombing. Libyans are also accused of causing the passenger airplane UTA fight 772’s bombing as it traveled above Niger (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1992-1993
The UN Security Council requires Libya to assemble and hand in suspects in the Pan Am flight 103 investigation. However, Libya does not obey, which results in the Un passing larger international sanctions (Libya Revolt of 2011).
1998-2001
If Libya complies with turning over suspects from the Pan Am flight 103 bombing, the Un agrees to suspend sanctions. Following this, in 1999 Libya turns over the suspects for trial in the Netherlands. This opens up better international relations. The UN follows its agreement and suspends the sanctions. For the first time in almost two decades, legitimate communication between the United States and Libya occurs. In 2001, Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer is found guilty for the bombing (Libya Revolt of 2011).
2003
Libya attempts to economically and diplomatically engage with the international community again. The Libyan General People’s Congress permits economic reform actions intended to give foreign investment access to the country. In addition, Libya says it will pay $2.7 billion in recompense to the victims of the Pan Am flight 103 attack’s families. Libyan officials begin underground negotiations with U.S. and British aimed at demolishing the country’s nuclear and chemical weapons programs (Libya Revolt of 2011).
2004
The majority of the US’s sanctions on Libya are removed. Qadaffi travels to Brussels to converse with the EU, which is his first time in Europe for 15 years. The US starts reintroducing diplomatic ties, which results in full repair in 2006 (Libya Revolt of 2011).
2005
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Qaddafi’s son Sayf al-Islam proclaims vast plans of economic reform and modernization (Libya Revolt of 2011).
2009
Megrahi is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is released from prison in Scotland on account of his very short life expectancy. However, when Megrahi returns to Libya, he is warmly greeted as a hero. This is highly disrespectful to the families of the bombing’s vitims and infuriates United States officials. Megrahi ends up living much longer than the few short months he was allotted. This makes people wonder about Megrahi’s diagnosis utilized to rationalize the murderer’s release (Libya Revolt of 2011).
2010
Qaddafi had been ruling for 41 years and declared himself “king of kings of Africa.” Lybia celebrated the ruler’s 40th anniversary in power as the world observed. This occasion demonstrated that the reforms promised by Qaddafi and his son were abandoned. Sayf al-Islam had advocated for a Libyan constitution that would start the path for Libya’s first general elections before September 2009, but Qaddafi’s son removed himself from politics in 2008. Qaddafi seemed to have aborted his discourse centered on reform and anticorruption. Qaddafi also abandoned his promise of sharing Libya’s oil revenues with the citizens. Sayf al-Islam re-entered politics when he advocated for Megrahi’s release. According to Sayf al-Islam, the convict’s release was brought up in coversations with the British government concerning gas and oil, causing conjectures on the U.K.’s oil and gas interests in Libya. Libya’soil production increased, prompting international companies raced to look into investing in Libya. Qaddafi visited Rome and New York City and addressed the UN General Assembly for the first tim. In Qaddafi’s speech, he “tore a copy of the UN charter, criticized the UN Security Council’s veto-power system, and called for a one-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians” (Libya Revolt of 2011).
Summary
Several factors led to revolution in Libya, including the territorial division of Libya’s tribes and regions, the incredibly harsh nature of Qaddafi’s regime, the abuse of human rights, and political corruption. Qaddafi’s rise to power significantly weakened tribes that had been privileged, particularly the Sanusi. Qaddafi transferred Libya’s political and economic power from the Sanusi base located in Cyrenaica to Tripolitania. In Tripolitania, Qaddafi formed his fundamental support with the Tripolitania and Fezzan tribes and elite. The Sanusi had ignored these people. While Qaddafi was in power, he trusted in a handpicked group of advisors and associates to control the regime and confirm people’s loyalty. This group was composed of Qaddafi’s extended family, members of loyal tribes like the Qadadfa, some trusted military officers, and Qaddafi’s old friends from the Free Officers Union (Bell and Witter). Despite Qaddafi’s dream of a utopian society, which was outlined in his Green Books, the reality is that the level of control is unreached and unsuccessful. It was impossible to replicate the ideal painted in Qaddafi's Green Book, which is why his preferred system of governing did not work. Libya was economically distressed and the majority of the population did not reap benefits from the oil sales. During Qaddafi’s dictatorship it was not unusual to have family members just disappear, be arrested, beaten, tortured or killed. The Qaddafi forces were known for widespread attacks on civilians, including student demonstrations, many times simply for opposing his rule and as a warning. In summary, Qaddafi's poor governing skills and brutal treatment of Libyan citizens sparked the desire to revolt and create a new, effective, just form of government.
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