Government/Politics:
For 42 years Libya was ruled by a military dictatorship lead by Colonel Muammar Qaddafi who originally came into power as the leader of the Free Officers Movement, which set up a Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) to govern their country and also operated as a secretive movement of junior officers, which overthrew the rule of King Idris I on September 1st 1969. On January 16, 1970, Qaddafi named himself Prime Minister and introduced his own brand of Arab Socialism and direct democracy. Qaddafi instituted a new political system based on his own interpretation of Arab nationalism. His beliefs are outlined in Qaddafi’s Green book, which rejected electoral politics and conventional political parties and also served as the countries unofficial Constitution.
The ruling elite under Qaddafi consisted of top civil servants, military officers, and politicians who were paid by Qaddafi with the extra money that he received from the oil reserve. These higher in society people enjoy the luxury’s of higher living standards compared to average Libyans, and corruption exists within these ranks. Libya is not a highly polarized society and is divided between extremes of wealth and poverty, there is no in between.
For 42 years Libya was ruled by a military dictatorship lead by Colonel Muammar Qaddafi who originally came into power as the leader of the Free Officers Movement, which set up a Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) to govern their country and also operated as a secretive movement of junior officers, which overthrew the rule of King Idris I on September 1st 1969. On January 16, 1970, Qaddafi named himself Prime Minister and introduced his own brand of Arab Socialism and direct democracy. Qaddafi instituted a new political system based on his own interpretation of Arab nationalism. His beliefs are outlined in Qaddafi’s Green book, which rejected electoral politics and conventional political parties and also served as the countries unofficial Constitution.
The ruling elite under Qaddafi consisted of top civil servants, military officers, and politicians who were paid by Qaddafi with the extra money that he received from the oil reserve. These higher in society people enjoy the luxury’s of higher living standards compared to average Libyans, and corruption exists within these ranks. Libya is not a highly polarized society and is divided between extremes of wealth and poverty, there is no in between.
Short Term Cause for the Revolution:
One day on February 8th, 2011 a small group of Libyan activists who were demanding for a new constitution and more civil rights, who were harassed by the police for months, were told to go to the interior Ministry in Tripoli. Form there they were unexpectedly bundled into a car and were told that they were going to meet with the leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi.
The uprising began on February 15, 2011 where anti-government rallies began to take place by protesters who were very angry about the arrest made on their human rights lawyer Fethi Tarbel, and many more. The protesters demanded that Qaddafi step down and release all the political leaders that he had arrested.
One day on February 8th, 2011 a small group of Libyan activists who were demanding for a new constitution and more civil rights, who were harassed by the police for months, were told to go to the interior Ministry in Tripoli. Form there they were unexpectedly bundled into a car and were told that they were going to meet with the leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi.
The uprising began on February 15, 2011 where anti-government rallies began to take place by protesters who were very angry about the arrest made on their human rights lawyer Fethi Tarbel, and many more. The protesters demanded that Qaddafi step down and release all the political leaders that he had arrested.
Long Term Affects/Economy:
The Arab Spring Movement was a wave of demonstrations and protests that spread across many countries in North Africa and the Middle East. These pro-democracy movements rose up against the regimes of the dictatorial governments, and the corrupt leaders, some of who had ruled for many decades, such as Qaddafi. After seeing how many countries had already revolted before them, the Libyan protesters/rebels saw no reason for them not to revolt and not become successful themselves.
Libya’s economy is centrally planned allowing little room for privately owned businesses. The annual gross domestic product (GPD) per capita or the amount of products they produced in a given year has reached $13,800. Most of the economy heavily relies on the oil reserves, and are responsible for more than 50% of the GDP, and 95% of the exports according to the World Bank. Much of that was due to a “lack of economic opportunities and the failure of the government to provide basic services to many neighborhoods’, according to The non-governmental organization said
The Arab Spring Movement was a wave of demonstrations and protests that spread across many countries in North Africa and the Middle East. These pro-democracy movements rose up against the regimes of the dictatorial governments, and the corrupt leaders, some of who had ruled for many decades, such as Qaddafi. After seeing how many countries had already revolted before them, the Libyan protesters/rebels saw no reason for them not to revolt and not become successful themselves.
Libya’s economy is centrally planned allowing little room for privately owned businesses. The annual gross domestic product (GPD) per capita or the amount of products they produced in a given year has reached $13,800. Most of the economy heavily relies on the oil reserves, and are responsible for more than 50% of the GDP, and 95% of the exports according to the World Bank. Much of that was due to a “lack of economic opportunities and the failure of the government to provide basic services to many neighborhoods’, according to The non-governmental organization said
Poverty/unemployment:
Despite Libya’s oil riches the living conditions for the people are extremely harsh, and a large part of the population are living without clean running water, working sewage systems, and will go up to two days without any food, and are struggling every day to make ends meet. According to the United Nations, 40% of Libya’s population, consisting of about 6.4 million people, is living below the poverty line, with no benefit at all from the oil reserves. Libya had been kept from the outside world and has been denied access from revenue from tourism, which has resulted in limited job opportunities. The average wage of working doctor gains about 300-400 dinars per month, equivalent to about 30% of a U.S dollar making what they purchase very limited. This amount of money that the average worker receives would hardly last them a week. In 2011 19.5% of the population in Libya was unemployed and suffering to receive the basic necessities that they need for a daily basis.
However the poverty isn’t just due to the economy or unemployment, but also due to their ruler Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, who took most of the oil riches for himself and his family, along with his supporters or loyalists, and mercenaries who were willing to fight for his regime, if anything would threaten his power.
Despite Libya’s oil riches the living conditions for the people are extremely harsh, and a large part of the population are living without clean running water, working sewage systems, and will go up to two days without any food, and are struggling every day to make ends meet. According to the United Nations, 40% of Libya’s population, consisting of about 6.4 million people, is living below the poverty line, with no benefit at all from the oil reserves. Libya had been kept from the outside world and has been denied access from revenue from tourism, which has resulted in limited job opportunities. The average wage of working doctor gains about 300-400 dinars per month, equivalent to about 30% of a U.S dollar making what they purchase very limited. This amount of money that the average worker receives would hardly last them a week. In 2011 19.5% of the population in Libya was unemployed and suffering to receive the basic necessities that they need for a daily basis.
However the poverty isn’t just due to the economy or unemployment, but also due to their ruler Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, who took most of the oil riches for himself and his family, along with his supporters or loyalists, and mercenaries who were willing to fight for his regime, if anything would threaten his power.
Rights of Women:
The 1969 Constitutional Proclamation granted women equality under the law, however discrimination against women continued. Women have societal restrictions on their movement even to certain locations. This law prohibits domestic violence, but there are hundreds of women who report a sort of domestic violence each year. Members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women criticized the government for not providing any data on the violence occurring against women, and question why the government didn’t do anything to protect the women against this domestic violence.
Many women however are hesitant to report their abuse in fear of the social consequences that they fear will make their situation worse than it already is, and reduce their involvement in the economy.
The 1969 Constitutional Proclamation granted women equality under the law, however discrimination against women continued. Women have societal restrictions on their movement even to certain locations. This law prohibits domestic violence, but there are hundreds of women who report a sort of domestic violence each year. Members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women criticized the government for not providing any data on the violence occurring against women, and question why the government didn’t do anything to protect the women against this domestic violence.
Many women however are hesitant to report their abuse in fear of the social consequences that they fear will make their situation worse than it already is, and reduce their involvement in the economy.
Death of Qaddafi:
By early September the rebels has gained power over Tripoli and the internationally recognized provisional government, known as the Transitional National Council, took power, and began to transfer its operations to the capitol. By this time Qaddafi was effectively removed from power, but still remained in hiding. There were still a few cities run by loyalists or pro-Qaddafi officials, so they rebels tried using negotiation to persuade them to surrender peacefully without a bloody fight. The loyalists denied surrendering to the rebels, and so the rebels began to push in to the cities of Surt, and Bani Walid, to fight off the loyalists and gain control of these remaining cities. On October 20, while they were in Surt fighting to gain control of the city, the rebels found and killed Qaddafi. After the death of Qaddafi the TNC struggled to establish a functional government and exert its authority in the months that followed the fall of the Qaddafi regime.
By early September the rebels has gained power over Tripoli and the internationally recognized provisional government, known as the Transitional National Council, took power, and began to transfer its operations to the capitol. By this time Qaddafi was effectively removed from power, but still remained in hiding. There were still a few cities run by loyalists or pro-Qaddafi officials, so they rebels tried using negotiation to persuade them to surrender peacefully without a bloody fight. The loyalists denied surrendering to the rebels, and so the rebels began to push in to the cities of Surt, and Bani Walid, to fight off the loyalists and gain control of these remaining cities. On October 20, while they were in Surt fighting to gain control of the city, the rebels found and killed Qaddafi. After the death of Qaddafi the TNC struggled to establish a functional government and exert its authority in the months that followed the fall of the Qaddafi regime.