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Elections and Democratization in the Middle EastLibya: Legacy of Dictatorship and the Long Path to Democracy

Elections and Democratization in the Middle East: Libya: Legacy of Dictatorship and the Long Path... [As the Libyan people emerge from over 40 years of dictatorship under Muammar al-Qaddafi, and the brutal conflict that brought it to an end, they face the daunting challenge of successfully and peacefully transitioning to democracy. Qaddafi liked to insist he was presiding over the truest form of popular governance, dubbed a Jamahiriyya, or “state of the masses,” whereby the people supposedly held direct and supreme control over their country. Though there was little doubt among most Libyans of his complete and uncompromising control over the reins of power, Qaddafi maintained that he was either subject to the will of the people or holding no formal power at all in his various posts, from Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council to “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Libyan Revolution.” The political experience endured by the Libyan people was accented by erratic, often fundamental shifts in policy, and distinguished by unorthodox initiatives. Despite frequent attempts by the regime to foster engagement in the political system, most Libyans concluded that the available avenues of engagement were designed to maintain the façade of popular rule and, thus, would not provide them with any real opportunity to sway any important decision-making.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

Elections and Democratization in the Middle EastLibya: Legacy of Dictatorship and the Long Path to Democracy

Part of the Elections, Voting, Technology Book Series
Editors: Hamad, Mahmoud; al-Anani, Khalil
Omar, Manal
Elections and Democratization in the Middle East — Nov 25, 2015
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20 pages

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Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan US
Copyright
© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Nature America Inc. 2014
ISBN
978-1-349-45262-0
Pages
67 –87
DOI
10.1057/9781137299253_4
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[As the Libyan people emerge from over 40 years of dictatorship under Muammar al-Qaddafi, and the brutal conflict that brought it to an end, they face the daunting challenge of successfully and peacefully transitioning to democracy. Qaddafi liked to insist he was presiding over the truest form of popular governance, dubbed a Jamahiriyya, or “state of the masses,” whereby the people supposedly held direct and supreme control over their country. Though there was little doubt among most Libyans of his complete and uncompromising control over the reins of power, Qaddafi maintained that he was either subject to the will of the people or holding no formal power at all in his various posts, from Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council to “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Libyan Revolution.” The political experience endured by the Libyan people was accented by erratic, often fundamental shifts in policy, and distinguished by unorthodox initiatives. Despite frequent attempts by the regime to foster engagement in the political system, most Libyans concluded that the available avenues of engagement were designed to maintain the façade of popular rule and, thus, would not provide them with any real opportunity to sway any important decision-making.]

Published: Nov 25, 2015

Keywords: Civil Society; Political Culture; Liberal Democracy; Civil Society Organization; Federal System

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