Libya

With its proximity to Europe, its significant oil reserves, and its strategic importance to the stability of the North Africa region, the ongoing turmoil in Libya is a concern for the United States and its allies. Rival factions serving as proxies to competing regional powers continue to destabilize the country and hamper any national dialogue efforts. The role of the United States and Europe will be essential in encouraging dialogue, supporting the arms embargo, and contributing to any post-war economic revitalization plan.

Content

MENASource

Feb 28, 2013

The Politics of Libya’s Political Isolation Law

By Eric Knecht

Libya’s political isolation law is flawed at best and leaves significant room for improvement. The current draft lists 36 categories of individuals deemed unfit for political office given their ties to the previous regime. Category number 14, for example, includes anyone who “assumed the position of administrative manager, ambassador, or general secretary for [embassies] abroad,” […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 15, 2013

Libya Must Be Stabilized

By Jason Pack and Karim Mezran

From Cairo on the Nile to Tunis on the Mediterranean, a political vacuum has descended across North Africa. The Arab Spring ushered in new freedoms, but it also weakened existing state structures and unleashed a cultural and political free-for-all, favorable to mobilization, assassinations and propagation of extremist ideology. The region’s newly elected governments are rapidly […]

Libya

MENASource

Feb 12, 2013

Dispatch from Tripoli: Tension in Anticipation of February 17

By Karim Mezran

Libyans are anxiously anticipating what might happen this week, on February 17, the second anniversary of the Libyan uprising; the streets are tense and the government is preparing for the worst. Libyan officials are worried that citizens upset with the poor performance of the government, Qaddafi elements seeking to destabilize the country, and Cyrenaican federalists […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2013

Libya’s Spheres of Bad Influence

By Karim Mezran

The tragic events unfolding in North Africa have brought to the attention of the West a reality that has been long underestimated and neglected: the rapid collapse of law and order in the countries that went through the revolts of the so-called Arab spring. Western countries have relied on the hope that new governments across […]

Libya NATO

MENASource

Jan 28, 2013

Yet Another Reason National Reconciliation in Libya Cannot Wait

By Karim Mezran

The famous Egyptian analyst and writer Mohamed Hassanein Heikal recently revived an old theory in an interview on Egyptian television: Egypt can claim a right to the fertile and oil-rich lands of the eastern Libyan provinces since millions of Egyptians are descendant from Libyan tribes that once lived on the Egyptian-Libyan border. Heikal also implied […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Jan 24, 2013

The French Mess in Mali and Libya

By Rajan Menon

If you want an illustration of the law of unintended consequences, look no further than Mali. The drama that’s been unfolding there over the past nine months, and that has taken a new turn in the past week, is a perfect illustration.

France Libya

MENASource

Jan 9, 2013

Libya’s Fractious New Politics

By Karim Mezran and Eric Knecht

Politics—defined here as the conflict of competing factions for power—did not meaningfully exist under the former Gaddafi regime. For some, the fact that they exist now, and in a rather lively fashion, is cause for optimism. However, the fact that they have become this fractious this fast, is cause for concern for many more. In […]

Libya

MENASource

Dec 21, 2012

The Troublesome Politics Behind Libya’s Southern Militarization

By Karim Mezran and Eric Knecht

 This past Sunday Libya’s legislative assembly, the General National Congress (GNC), made perhaps its boldest announcement to date: to seal off the southern border, declare the area a military zone, and appoint a military governor with full authority to arrest wanted criminals. Libya’s south has been plagued by drug smuggling, human and arms trafficking, and […]

Libya

MENASource

Nov 21, 2012

Appoint or Elect the Constitutional Committee of Libya?

By Karim Mezran and Duncan Pickard

Now that Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) has appointed and installed a government, its attention will turn to the selection of a committee to write a new constitution for the country. The fundamental question in this debate is whether or not the committee should be popularly elected or appointed by the GNC.Some in the eastern […]

Libya

Uncategorized

Nov 20, 2012

Libya’s Transition: The Current State of Play

By Jason Harmala

November 2012 Download PDF The Political Process Political Parties Issues of Concern Key People to Watch Economic Situation International Response Despite localized violence and continuing resistance to militia disbandment, Libya’s democratic transition is moving forward largely as planned. Elections for the 200-member General National Congress (GNC), Libya’s first free election in six decades, took place […]

Democratic Transitions Libya
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Experts

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran
Josh Kirshner is a nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Josh Kirshner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Fellow

Alessia Melcangi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society English

Staff

Karim Mezran

Director, Resident Senior Fellow, North Africa Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economy & Business
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