Historical Encyclopedia
Libya's government system has gone through several key stages, each characterized by significant political and social changes. These changes included the transition from monarchy to republicanism, the creation of a unique form of governance under the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi, and later, after his overthrow, a shift towards uncertainty and attempts to establish a new form of rule. This article examines the evolution of Libya's government system, from its foundation to the current attempts to build a democratic state.
After World War II, Libya found itself under the administration of Great Britain and France, but in 1951 it became an independent state. Libya was a monarchy, and King Idris I ascended to the throne. He was elected as the head of the new kingdom through complex negotiations with Great Britain, which controlled many strategically important territories in Libya, including oil fields.
The Kingdom of Libya in its initial form was a union of three regions: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan. Libya remained dependent on foreign powers, and its economic life was closely tied to international oil companies operating within the country. King Idris I played a key role in establishing foreign policy, including maintaining relations with Western powers.
However, domestic politics were unstable: the country faced poverty, corruption, and a lack of development. The desire for political and social reforms grew, and by the late 1960s, a movement emerged in Libya that ultimately led to the overthrow of the monarchy.
On September 1, 1969, a military coup took place in Libya led by Muammar Gaddafi, an army officer. Together with a group of junior officers known as the "Black Cat," Gaddafi overthrew King Idris I, who was abroad at the time, and seized power. Following the coup, Libya was declared an Arab republic, and Gaddafi became the de facto leader of the country.
From the beginning of his rule, Gaddafi initiated radical reforms. In 1970, he started the nationalization of the oil industry, which allowed the country to gain significant revenue. He also announced a course towards Arab socialism, which included the establishment of people's committees and the abolition of private property in key sectors of the economy.
Gaddafi criticized Western capitalism and aimed to create an alternative political system based on the ideas of the "third universal" — a distinctive model of governance that was neither capitalism nor socialism. In 1977, Gaddafi officially announced the transformation of Libya into a Jamahiriya — a "state of the masses," where power was supposed to belong to the "people's committees." According to his doctrine, government was represented by various popular bodies, and the role of the state was reduced to coordinating their activities.
The government system of Libya from 1977 to 2011 was based on the principles outlined in Gaddafi's "Green Book," which asserted that traditional forms of governance, such as democracy, were unacceptable, and that true power should emanate from the people. The Jamahiriya represented a unique form of socialist state based on the idea of direct popular sovereignty through people's committees.
The Jamahiriya system effectively meant governance based on the ideology that Gaddafi promoted as the ideal for Libya and the Arab world. He called for the rejection of political parties, parliaments, and other traditional power institutions. Instead, according to the "Green Book," power belonged to citizens who were to participate in decision-making through people's assemblies.
However, in practice, this system led to the consolidation of Gaddafi's personal power, and real authority remained in the hands of his close allies and family members. Libya's economy remained heavily dependent on oil, while the political system sustained an authoritarian regime despite external claims of democracy. Libya remained isolated from Western countries, and Gaddafi was known for his conflicts with international organizations and human rights groups.
The situation in Libya began to change in 2011, when protests erupted in the Arab world, known as the "Arab Spring." In Libya, protests against Muammar Gaddafi's rule began in February 2011 and quickly escalated into an armed conflict. Protesters demanded democratic reforms and the resignation of Gaddafi.
After several months of fighting and intervention by international forces led by NATO, Gaddafi was overthrown. Libya found itself in a state of civil war, and the country was divided into several regional factions, each controlling various parts of the country. Despite Gaddafi's fall, Libya was unable to establish a stable government immediately, and the political situation remained unstable in the following years.
After Gaddafi's overthrow, Libya entered a process of establishing a new government structure. A transitional government was formed, and in 2012, the first democratic elections took place, but they did not lead to a stable political situation. Libya continued to remain divided, and the struggle for power among various factions resulted in a prolonged conflict.
Despite the efforts of the international community, including the UN, to establish peace, Libya continues to experience a period of instability and conflict. Security issues, fragmentation of power, and economic crisis remain significant challenges for the country.
The evolution of Libya's government system is a complex process that includes the transition from monarchy to republicanism, the creation of a unique form of governance under Gaddafi, and finally, the shift towards uncertainty and the struggle for democratic changes after his overthrow. Despite initial attempts at establishing democracy, Libya still faces numerous political and social difficulties. Questions regarding the future of the country's governance remain open, and the international community continues to monitor developments in Libya.