Libya in the Arab Spring (PDF)

This book sketches
the discourse about a new constitution in Libya since 2011. Applying a
discourse analytical approach, the author identifies societal cleavages that
have come to the fore in Libya's transitional period. The debate has focused on
democracy, federalism, decentralisation and localisation, the role of religion,
women in politics as well as ethnic minorities. The strategies followed to
ensure representation in the constitutional process have included civil
disobedience, affirmative action and force. The effects of raising demands in
these ways have been changes in the constitutional process and institutional
design of Libya's interim political institutions rather than promises that
particular demands as to the content of the constitution would be met. The
general prevention of a public discourse and competition along societal
cleavages under Gaddafi's totalitarian ideology has resulted in an all-out
resurgence of splits along ethnic, regional and other lines.

The
work was awarded the Christoph Schumann Memorial Prize of the University of
Erlangen.

Contents

• From the Monarchy to the
  Fall of Gaddafi


• Libya's Society


• Political Actors and
  Political System since 2011


• The Libyan Constitutional
  Discourse


• Target Groups


• Scholars and students of
  Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies


• Political advisors,
  political decision-makers, consultants, country analysts

The Author

Nadine Schnelzer is a
researcher on the Middle East. She has worked as a freelance translator and
author.