| Publication |
2014.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Even though demonstrations in Tunisia led to the resignation of President Ben Ali on January 14, 2011, no Western analyst would have believed that the "days of anger" summoned in Libya on February 17 would also result in a change of political power. The ruling tribal alliance that had been in place since Muammar al-Qadhafi's rise to power in September 1969 was so well-entrenched that an ouster by mass protest seemed impossible. It consisted of Qadadfa, Warfalla and Maqarha as well as loyal security forces, primarily the Revolutionary Committees under the command of Qadhafi and the military special brigades,1 mainly recruited from members of the Qadadfa tribe. Yet, ousted it was in the wake of an eight-month civil war caused by the bloody actions of the security forces against demonstrators, in particular in Benghazi after February 17. The protest was grounded in the deep discontent of the majority of the population with political paternalism, lack of liberty, severe human-rights violations, and the absence of economic and social development.
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