The militia game : case of Libya

Abstract

The Fall of Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi created hope and optimism for peace in Libya that was short-lived. The 2011 revolution had brought a cataclysm to the Libyan political arena. The ideals of a new democracy were overturned by a degrading security sector and a huge power vacuum. The revolutionary militias that toppled the Qaddafi regime were now the rulers themselves. Violent non-state actors saw the withering authority in Libya as a grand opportunity to empower and enrich themselves. The reputation of the security sector was damaged by the militias yet the people also depended on the militias for security against lawlessness. The integration of militias into state and civil institutions had blurred the lines between state and non-state actors. On the other hand, terrorist cells expanded into Libya, creating their own power bases and using Libya to catapult them to their objectives in the Middle East and Europe. The warring government factions depend on the militia’s for their coalitions and military campaigns while the militias continue to grow richer and more powerful. This thesis will uncover the blurry lines and I will seek to form a clearer picture of the influence of violent non-state actors in the Libyan Crisis.