State-Reconstruction and Democratization in the Post-Arab Spring Libya

An Analysis of the 2019 Opinion Poll Survey

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between state-reconstruction and democratisation in Libya following the collapse of the authoritarian regimes in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring, through an analysis of the results of an original public opinion survey that was conducted in 2019. The 2011 Arab Spring witnessed the collapse of Libya’s authoritarian regime of Colonel Mu‘ammar al-Qadhdhāfī. Since then, a “liberal” state-reconstruction based on democracy and free markets has been pursued, and three national elections have been held. However, during this process, political violence became rampant, including armed clashes between various political forces, and democracy never became the “only rule in town.” Why did Libyan citizens still go to the ballot boxes even if national-reconstruction and national unity were stalled? What did they hope to achieve by voting? Or, what did they expect from the elections and, more broadly, from democracy and democratisation? This paper, relying on ‘Post Liberal Peacebuilding (PLPB)’ ideas, will consider this question, focusing on the trends of citizens rather than the design of ideal institutions. By answering these questions, this paper aims to clarify the reality of state reconstruction and democratisation in Libya after the Arab Spring.