Amidst political stagnation, massive security concerns, and an economic mudslide, Libya faces one of its most sensitive periods in its transition to a stable democracy. Despite international support, the dangers inherent in the country’s struggle to move forward will not be resolved unless the fundamental problem of appeasement is addressed.
In a recent report from the Atlantic Council released yesterday titled, Libya’s Faustian Bargains: Breaking the Appeasement Cycle, authors Senior Fellow Karim Mezran, Cambridge University researcher Jason Pack, and ForeignPolicy.com’s Mohamed Eljarh argue that the cycle of violence, intractable political stalemate, and weakened economy can be traced to the Libyan authorities’ continued policy of appeasing political opponents. The Qaddafi legacy may have created the circumstances (weak institutions, flawed leadership, and capacity deficits) but the post-Qaddafi-era politicians exacerbate the fragile climate by giving in to partisan, militia, and federalist demands to mitigate tensions while failing to address the underlying drivers of conflict.
Read the full report here.