1. Politics of the Middle East
The Maghreb

2. Libya Population 6,244,174 (108th) GDP $70.386 billion (80th)
Per capita $11,497 (82nd)
1977 onward, per capita income in the country rose to more than US $11,000
1947 Independence from Italy
1951 Released from UK French Mandate
1969 Muammar Gaddafi seized power
2011 Civil War, NATO intervention
2014 General Elections

3. Gaddafi
1 September 1969, military officers led by 27-year-old army officer Muammar Gaddafi staged a coup d'état against King Idris
2 March 1977, Libya officially became the "Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya".
Gaddafi officially passed power to General People's Committees, claiming to a symbolic figurehead
Formally a democracy though the government refused to publish results
The Green Book From 1977
1986 assassination attempt by US
A gathering of more than 200 African kings and traditional rulers, meeting August 2008, conferred on Colonel Gaddafi the title "King of Kings of Africa".

4. Foreign Relations Chadian–Libyan conflict 1977
Libya started delivering military supplies to militias in Chad, then invaded
Libya and Egypt fought a four-day border war
sponsored paramilitary and terrorist groups around the world
1986 Airstrike
1988 Lockerbie Return to the international community following admission of guilt for Lockerbie and compensation paid.

5. Revolution 17 February 2011, National Transnational Council
NATO intervention, No Fly Zones
October 2011 loyalist forces defeated
Gaddafi Killed 2011, Battle of Sirte
July 2012, first parliament elected  

6. French Rule
Mass protests against French rule May 1945, met with harsh response. 15,000 deaths
1947 Organic Statute of Algeria, ‘meritous’
1954 – 62 War of Independence
Evian Accords, 1 million French Algerians leave
the exodus deprived the country of most of its managers, civil servants, engineers, teachers, physicians, and skilled workers.
Several 100’s of thousands made homeless
70 %t of the work force was unemployed

7. Islamists Parties and Government Challenges
1989 New Constitution
Islamic Salvation Front won elections with 50% of the vote in 1990
Military intervention followed, crack down on ISF, subsequent elections postponed.
Low intensity civil conflict with the state continues
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
2006 al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
1996 a referendum introduced changes to the constitution, enhancing presidential powers and banning Islamist parties
Civil Concord was approved in a nationwide referendum 2000 offered amnesty for anti government rebels, 80% decrees in insurgent activity
In September 2005, another referendum

8. Revolution
high unemployment, food inflation, corruption, poor living conditions, freedom of speech
Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year street vendor, who set himself afire in protest at the confiscation of his goods and humiliation by a municipal official.
violence erupted following Bouazizi's death
 President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power.