A History of Modern Libya

In the wake of the civil war and Qadhafi's demise, the time is ripe for a new edition of Dirk Vandewalle's classic history of Libya. The book, which was originally published in 2006, traces the country's history back to the 1900s, through the Italian occupation in the early twentieth century, the Sanusi monarchy and, thereafter, to the revolution of 1969 and the accession of Qadhafi. The following chapters analyse the economics and politics of Qadhafi's revolution, offering insights into the man and his ideology as reflected in his Green Book. The new edition covers the intervening years, since 2005, when, courted by the West, Qadhafi came in from the cold. At home, though, his people were disillusioned, and economic liberalization came too late to forestall revolution. In an epilogue, the author reflects upon Qadhafi's premiership and the legacy he leaves behind.

Introduction; 1. 'A tract which is wholly sand …'; 2. Italy's fourth shore and decolonization; 3. The Sanusi monarchy as accidental state, 1951–69; 4. A Libyan sandstorm: from monarchy to republic, 1969–73; 5. The Green Book's stateless society, 1973–86; 6. The limits of revolution, 1986–2003; 7. From reconciliation to civil war, 2003–11; Epilogue: farewell to the revolution?

In the wake of civil war and Qadhafi's demise, Dirk Vandewalle updates his classic study of Libya to trace events since 2005. These were the years that Qadhafi came in from the cold and was courted by the west. At home, though, his people were disillusioned, and economic liberalization came too late to forestall revolution. In an epilogue, the author reflects upon Qadhafi's premiership and the legacy that he leaves behind.

Dirk Vandewalle is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. He is the author of A History of Modern Libya (2006) and Libya Since Independence: Oil and State-Building (1998). He is the editor of North Africa: Development and Reform in a Changing Global Economy (1996) and Qadhafi's Libya: 1969–1994 (1995).