Dying Democracy: Libyan Struggle for Power and the False Promise of Stability
TL/DR –
The article discusses how democratic principles are often eroded not through outright betrayal but through countless pragmatic accommodations, using the example of Libya. It explains that the Libyan citizens have shown a desire for democratic principles through participation in municipal elections and calls for accountable government, but have become disillusioned as it seems no one will allow democracy to effect any real change. The article suggests that people may be led to accept authoritarianism out of fatigue, especially when democracy seems associated with disorder and corruption, and warns that Libya’s greatest failure post-2011 might be not that democracy failed to arrive, but that its transition leaders succeed in discrediting democracy without ever really implementing it.
Libya’s Democratic Struggle
In international diplomacy, democracy often fades not due to massive betrayals but through several pragmatic accommodations. Eventually, it shifts from becoming an objective to just a mere talking point.
However, suggesting that Libyans have denounced democracy would be inaccurate. Evident by their participation in municipal elections and constant demands for elections and accountable governance, Libyans still desire democracy. The issue is that they may increasingly feel that no one will let democracy effect change.
This sentiment is dangerous because constant disappointment eventually turns into exhaustion. Amidst countless failed blueprints, delayed elections, and foreign influences, citizens tend to care less about the constitutionality and more about basic services and security. When politics reaches such a point, authoritarianism becomes the preferred option out of fatigue rather than enthusiasm.
The proposition of trading obedience for stability becomes more appealing after years of upheaval. Some Libyans, despite the brutality of Qaddafi’s era, reminisce about times of a unified government and predictability. This sentiment doesn’t indicate a wish for Qaddafi’s return but shows how disorder and corruption can make authoritarianism seem competent in comparison to democracy.
The ultimate failure of post-2011 Libya could be not only the absence of a democratic regime, but also the discrediting of democracy by those who controlled the transition without genuinely trying to implement it.
In 2011, Libyans demanded dignity, political participation, accountability, and an end to arbitrary governance. There is now a risk of replacing these demands with a system of family networks, armed patronage, corruption, foreign sponsorship, unelected bodies, and perpetually deferred elections.
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