LIBYA: A REVOLUTIONARY SUCCESS STORY.

Katie Reilly

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WHERE IS LIBYA?LIBYA IS IN NORTHERN AFRICA, JUST SOUTH OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

BACKGROUND INFO. & DEMOGRAPHICS.

Libya is a primarily Arab, North African country. 90% of the people who live in Libya, cover 10%

of the country. Libya’s population, compared to the amount of

land it covers, is very small. The populated regions of Libya are very crowded. Over 82% of the population is literate and

primary education is free. 97% of Libya’s population are believers of Islam. The mass majority of Libyan people speak Arabic. People are family oriented, and most live in

apartment blocks.

ABOUT THE REBELS  Rebels in Libya were mostly civilians. These included,

but are not limited to, teachers, students, lawyers, oil workers, and a contingent of professional soldiers that defected from the Libyan Army to join the rebels.

 The Islamic Fighting Group and the Obaida Ibn Jarra Brigade were considered part of the rebel movement.

The Obaida Ibn Jarra Brigade was popularly considered responsible for the murder of Abdul Fatah Younis. This was a big deal because he was a huge rebel leader. The group suspected him as a double- agent for Gaddafi, which has still neither been confirmed or denied.

The rebels passionately desired justice, democracy, and most of all, a government that was not corrupt or cruel.

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The main reason for the revolution in Libya was this man. Mummar Gaddafi was the corrupt leader who Libyan revolutionaries were trying to overthrow. He monopolized the economy, he killed protesters, spent money earned from oil production on arms, over 20% of the Libyan population was unemployed, and the people were fed up with him!

COMPARISIONS Both the USA and Libya were dealing with corrupt leaders

who wanted what was best for themselves, not the people they were governing. This was clear in economics. Gaddafi and his family monopolized the Libyan economy, much like the British controlled the US. While the leading class lived luxuriously, “the people” were suffering.

Both the USA and Libya had figure heads to blame. For the US, this was King George III, and for Libya, this was Gaddafi.

The Boston Massacre in the US became a fuel for revolution, while in Libya the government’s snipers killed on a much larger scale, also igniting the revolutionary efforts.

Both nations received external help in their successful revolutions. NATO helped the Libyan rebels in their revolution, and France helped the colonies.

CONTRASTING REVOLUTIONS: AMERICAN VS. LIBYAN.

The US originally did not want a complete break from their ruler (King George III)

The American Revolution was the colonies vs. Britain (not actually a civil war, though there were Brits in the colonies, British troops came from over seas).

British weren’t passionate about the war.

Libyan revolutionaries wanted to cut all ties with Gaddafi and his government in favor of democracy. (wanted to change entirely, deliberate revolution)

Gaddafi was known for imprisoning over 10,000 residents of Tripoli, and torturing them.

The Libyan Revolution is known as a Civil War.

USA Libya

LIBYA: FREE AT LAST!

On September 20, 2011, Mummar Gaddafi, the corrupt leader fighting against justice, was killed. His assassination, in the eyes of millions, marked the end of the Libyan Revoltuion. But….

WILL LIBYA SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISH A NEW GOVERNMENT?

It’s hard to say if Libyan rebels will get what they desire in the end, the ultimate goal being democracy. Killing perhaps the biggest obstacle in their way is just a promising start to the long journey of establishing a new way of governing and life in general. Even achieving peace and a government free of corruption is a difficult task. Sure, Gaddafi is dead, but conflicting ideas remain in Libya. Also, one must consider that Libya has operated under a dictator for a veryyy long time. Changing that system will take time and effort. However, the American Revolution is proof that when a majority of people are driven for change, change will happen. As an optimist, I do think Libya can succeed, especially if Libya receives help from other more developed nations.

WORKS CITED:

“A Civil War Beckons” The Economist. March 3, 2011. October 26, 2011.

“Children of the Revolution: Libya” Foreign Policy. September 19, 2011. October 23, 2011.

 “Libya City Torn By Tribal Feud” Wall Street Journal. June 21, 2011. October 25, 2011.

”Libya’s Tribal Politics Key to Gaddafi’s Fate” Stabroek News. February 23, 2011. October 25, 2011.