Libya_SM_VZ

** Part I: A look at the Nation **

Political Structure: **
 * Demographics: **
 * Nationality- Libyan
 * Ethnic Groups: Berber and Arab 97% Other 3%
 * Religions- Sunni Muslim (Official 97%, Other 3%)
 * Median Age- 24.5 years (male) and 24.4 years (female)
 * Population- 6,733,620
 * Age Structure: 0-14 years 32.8%
 * 15-64 years 62.7%
 * 65 years and over 4.6%
 * 15-64 years:1.06 male(s)/female
 * G **** eography: **[[image:challenges-10/libya_map.PNG width="307" height="198" align="right"]]
 * Mostly barren, flat to wavelike plains, plateaus, and depressions
 * Natural Hazards
 * Hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
 * Climate: **
 * Dry, extreme desert interior
 * Natural Resources
 * Petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
 * more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert.
 * Economic Resources: **
 * Imports-Commodities: machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer goods
 * $14.1 billion (2011 est.) Country comparison to world 84
 * $24.73 billion (2010 est.)
 * Exports-Commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
 * $12.93 billion (2011 est.) Country comparison to world 84
 * $41.8 billion (2010 est.)
 * GDP: $14,100 (2010 est.)
 * $13,800 (2009 est.) Country comparison to world 88
 * Labor Force: 1.16 million (2011 est.) Country comparison to world 139
 * By occupation:
 * agriculture 17%
 * Industry: 23% [[image:challenges-10/2011-02-27_muramar_ghadafi.jpg width="242" height="225" align="right"]]
 * Services: 59%
 * Unemployment rate: 30% (2004 est.) Country comparison to world 179
 * Type of Government: Operates under a transitional government- Libya is trying to rebuild their government after Gaddafi’s rule. Elections are planned for June of 2012 (Constitutional Assembly for new constitution to be drawn up)
 * Voters: Citizens 18 or older
 * Elections will be held in June of 2012

** Part II: History **


 * In 1951 Libya gained full independence
 * In 1959 Oil was discovered in Libya
 * In 1969 a coup was staged by a group of junior military officers; their leader was the 27 year old Muammar Gaddafi who began to make changes immediately after taking power
 * In 1989 Libya reconciled with the Arab world after years of war with the various countries; they formed an economic union that was called the Arab Maghreb Union with Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauriania
 * In 1970 U.S and British military bases in Libya were closed because of Gaddafi's orders.
 * In 1999 Gaddafi helped Libya rejoined the international community
 * In February 2011 large scale rebellions broke out in Libya; they all wanted Gaddafi to step down from power
 * In May 2011 the International Criminal Court ordered an arrest warrant for Gaddafi; with the charges of crimes against humanity
 * In August 2011 Muammar Gaddafi went into hiding
 * In October 2011 Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed as he tried to escape from his home town in Libya

** Part III: Legitimacy of the Leader and Government **


 * The 5 Purposes of Government || How Well the 5 Purposes are Fulfilled || Evidence ||
 * Protect Individual Rights || Not fulfilled || “Gaddafi [|has frequently described his own people as "backwards] ." More than half of his 6.5 million subjects are under 18. Despite Libya's plentiful oil revenues, which represent most of the national budget, [|many children suffer from malnutrition and anemia] ” People are suffering because of Gaddafi’s regime ||
 * Make Economic Decisions || Somewhat fulfilled || “Oil is the economy in Libya and oil profits have bankrolled massive investments in education and infrastructure—yet Libya lags far behind other oil-rich Arab states.” ||
 * Provide Public Services || Somewhat fulfilled || They have police, military, electricity, computer access, and cell phone access, however that doesn't stop Gaddafi from allowing his police and military from abusing and killing the people of Libya. ||
 * National Defense || Somewhat fulfilled || Libya had a military that Gaddafi greatly relied on; however the military was allowed to shoot civilians and protesters. ||
 * Maintain Order || Not fulfilled || During the protests and demonstrations many of Libya’s own people were shot and killed by Gaddafi’s military and police forces.Gaddafi used violence and attacks as a way to stop the protesting which is not a proper way to maintain order. ||

** Part IV: Snapshot of the Current Uprising **

The people of Libya that revolted against Gaddafi were mostly civilians. Those civilians include teachers, students, and even former soldiers of Libya that abandoned that Libyan military to join the makeshift rebel army. All those different people had one thing in common... they wanted to bring down the Dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
 * Who revolted?[[image:Libyan-protesters-in-Beng-005.jpg width="332" height="194" align="left"]] **

The people of Libya revolted against Muammar Gaddafi for many things; they believed that if they did not try to bring him down from power he would continue to rule with his iron fist and would crush anyone that tried to oppose him, just like he had done for 42 long years. One of the many things that lead the people of Libya to the revolt was the fact that because of Gaddafi they virtually had no rights; in Libya under the reign of Gaddafi if a person discussed the national policy with a foreigner they would be punished with a three year stay in prison. That shows he did not care what happened to his people as long as he had control over them. The people believed that if they didn’t take Gaddafi out of power now they would have to endure this torture for another long period of time until someone else decided to oppose the unjust government. Also the people of Libya wanted the revolution because they wanted their government to be more democratic.
 * Why did they revolt? **


 * How did they organize? **

“The revolution in Libya did not initially start as a revolution, instead it started as a day that was planned to be the “Day of Rage” on Thursday February 17, 2011. However on Thursday an important lawyer named Fathi Terbil was arrested by security forces; he was a representative for the families of the thousands of prisoners that were massacred by Libyan security forces at Abu Slim prison in 1996. Later that same day when Terbil was released he set up a webcam that overlooking Benghazi's main square. With the help of exiled Libyans in Canada and others around the world, the video spread rapidly on the Internet. When more people went to protest the Libyan police started shooting at the protesters, which in turn lead to even more protests that began to fight Gaddafi’s troops. In the end there were hundreds of casualties.

The Libyan the revolution and rebellion against Gaddafi and his government began with protests in Benghazi. The protest of the people quickly spread to the capital of Tripoli and three other locations.”


 * How did the people overthrow the government? **

The people of Libya and the rebels overthrew the government of Gaddafi with a lot of violence and protests. Some of the protests crossed over into the capital of Tripoli which caused a lot of violence among the civilians and the armed forces (police and the military).


 * How did the government respond? **

The government of Libya did not give in to the protests of the people. During some of the protests the police were allowed to shoot the civilians which lead to hundreds of casualties.


 * How was the government the same or different following the revolution? **

After Gaddafi was overthrown National Transitional Council helped decide that the new government will be based on Western-style democracy. The new government will be also based on democratic principles and the rule of law. There will be an election held in June 2012 in order to rewrite the constitution in hopes of becoming a more peaceful and better nation.


 * Citations: **

** Works Cited **