LIBYAN CONCILIATION

By Wang Jinyan

Following similar uprisings in neighboring countries， in February 2011， residents in eastern Libya staged large-scale protests that quickly escalated into a civil war between supporters and opponents of the government. Regime change was brought about through a campaign of military interference by Western countries.

Libya has struggled to rebuild in the following decade amid fracturing regime power， a flagging economy and many forms of social unrest. The current predicament of Libya is partly the result of external intervention， which is likely to continue hindering the countrys future development. Therefore， only a real reconciliation inside the country can bring about real progress.

Rejection of Western democracy

Failing to build a stable and united government， Libya was instead divided between a Tripoli-based government and a government based in Tobruk. After their split， the two sides deliberately sabotaged economic recovery and social development of each others domains， severely disrupting the countrys overall growth. Revenue from the energy industry， on which the country relies heavily， plunged， resulting in high rates of unemployment， high inflation， and lower living standards. Political turmoil and a failing economy in turn exacerbated a number of security issues， not only within Libya but also in neighboring regions. Extremist organizations， such as the socalled “Islamic State” and Al-Qaeda， recruited and groomed extremists in Libya and its surrounding areas before sending them to participate in terrorist attacks in other parts of Africa and in Europe. These attacks not only worsened the security situation on these two continents， but also contributed greatly to the refugee crisis that has confronted Europe in recent years.

Political recovery must be the first step in Libyas post-war rebuilding. The common goal of the countrys revolutionary masses and the promise of the political leaders were to implement a democratic political system， giving Western countries an excuse to meddle in Libyas internal affairs. However， Western-style democracy appears to run counter to local context.

The social foundations necessary for a democratic system have yet to take shape in Libya. Under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi， Libya was shackled with an outdated political system and flawed institutions. The Arab Jamahiriya system practiced at that time was unique in the modern world and totally detached from the worlds other political and administrative systems. A constitution， a parliament and political parties are all necessary for democracy， and all have long been absent in the country.