LIBYA | A Western Policy Disaster?

The 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s dictator, was widely hailed at the time as a major victory of the Arab Spring. However, it also led to a devastating civil war that has destroyed Libya and further destabilised the wider Middle East and North Africa. This has prompted many to ask whether we should now regard the decision to support the rebel groups as a foreign policy disaster. Libya has a long and fascinating history stretching back into antiquity. However, when it became independent few were optimistic about its prospects. It was poor and undeveloped. However, the discover of oil in the late 1950s changed all that. But it also brought growing opposition to the country’s regime. This led to a military coup in 1969 that saw King Idris overthrown and a 27-year-old army office, Muammar Gaddafi, take over. Under his strange rule, the country adopted a unique form of Islamic socialism. And on the world stage, Libya became a state sponsor of terrorism. But by the 2000s, Gaddafi was was attempting to rehabilitate the country’s reputation. All this changed in 2011 with the Arab Spring. This led to major uprisings against the Libyan leader followed by NATO air strikes against the country. But while this eventually forced Gaddafi from power, it also led to a bitter and brutal nine-year civil war that decimated the country. Indeed, Barack Obama has said that the US failure to plan for the overthrow of Gaddafi was the greatest failure of his presidency. And a former head of French intelligence in the country has called it a Western foreign policy disaster. So, just what went so wrong? *MY NEW BOOK!* Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know Oxford University Press Amazon *SUPPORT THE CHANNEL* Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay, and here I take an informed look at International Relations, conflict, security, and statehood. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and access to the channel Discord server, please consider becoming a Channel Member or support me through Patreon. I would greatly appreciate your support. Thank you! 00:00 Introduction and Titles 00:46 Libya and Regime Change in International Relations 02:03 Libya: Location, Population and Economics 03:06 History of Libya 04:13 Libya after Independence 05:10 Libya under Gaddafi 06:46 Gaddafi Gains International Acceptance 08:05 The Overthrow of Gaddafi 09:54 Libya’s Civil War 10:57 The Legacy of the Overthrown of Gaddafi 12:29 Was Overthrowing Gaddafi a Mistake? *SOURCES AND FURTHER READING* Lockerbie Trial Verdict 1999 *EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO* *DISCLAIMERS* - The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation. - Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you. #Libya #Gaddafi #NATO