Libya's Revolution in Perspective: 1969-2000 Vandewalle

The first Chapter in Vandewalle's book (consisting of 9 themed chapters produced by 7 respective author's) outlines a general historical perspective on the execution of the revolution by the RCC in 1969, the policies pursued by the RCC from 1969-2000, its relationships with domestic industry, its relationships with the largely expatriate oil producing and exporting industry, its relationships with the West and Europe, and its attempts at liberalization starting in the late 1980's (1987) and continuing into the 1990's.

The following are a few important dates and events the chapter outlines:

Sept. 1, 1969 - Coup by young military officers puts an end to Sanusi Kingdom

Jan 1970 - Some of the names of the 14-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) released to the public:

Colonel Mu'amma al-Qadhafi
Major Ads as-Salam Jallud
Major Bashir Hawadi
Captain Mukhtar Abdullah Gerwy
Captain Abd al-Munim Tahir al-Huni
Captain Mustapha al-Kharubi
Captain al-Khuwaylidi al-Hamidi
Captain Muhammad Nejm
Captain Ali Awad Hamza
Captain Abu Bakr Yunus Jabr
Captain Omar Abdaallah al-Muhayshi

Oct 1970 - all country's ministries, except the Ministry of Oil, run directly by RCC members

Dec 16, 1970 - regimes first clear political agenda emerged:

1. Call for removal of foreign bases and troops from Libyan territory
2. for neutrality
3. National unity
4. Suppression of all political parties

January 14, 1971 - Qadhafi announced movement toward popular rule. Popular Congresses would appoint representative to the country's parliament and would directly elect the country's president.

March 20, 1971 - Tripoli Agreement (OPEC) - raised posted price of Libyan Crude to #3.32 per barrel -

June 12, 1971 - creation of the Arab Socialist Union (ASU) - much like Nasser's ASU as a more controlled system of mobilization--aimed at being the vanguard of the government

April 16, 1973 - Qadhafi announced Popular Revolution: new strategy aimed at mobilizing from the bottom up--involving lower middle and lower classes. RCC remained in total control of gov't.

Oct 17, 1973 (Wiki) - members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC, consisting of the Arab members of OPEC plus Egypt and Syria) announced, as a result of the ongoing Yom Kippur War, that they would no longer ship oil to nations that had supported Israel in its conflict with Syria, Egypt, and Iraq (the United States, its allies in Western Europe, and Japan).

November, 1974 (1) – meeting of ASU, split into two factions (1) wanted more orderly, planned course of action that included a carefully designed economic plan—technocratic solution to economy/politics (2) Pan-Arab ideological group pursuing activist policy willing to sacrifice country’s riches for Arab unity.

July 1975 – student led protest/political unrest (further research required.)

August, 1975 – RCC members Bashir Hawadi and ‘Uamr al-Muhayshi failed coup attempt. (Publication of the Green Book)

March 2, 1977 – The Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriyya

November, 1977 – creation of the Revolutionary Committees charged with encouraging greater popular participation in the Basic Peoples Congresses, where high level of absenteeism occurs today.

March 3, 1978 – Qadahfi/ulama debate where Qadhafi Islamic legal rules could no longer be used as a guideline for economic and political relations in modern societies.

August 1981 – US shoots down two Libyan planes over the Gulf of Sirte.

November 4, 1981 – Exxon represented by Esso Standard Libya, INC. and Esso Sirte announced it would withdraw operations from the country

March 10, 1982 – US government adopted measure to prohibit the import of all Libyan oil in the country and started to restrict the flow of US goods to Libya.

January 1983 – Mobil followed suite in withdrawing from the country

April 1986 – US bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi

January, 1986 (2) – comprehensive US trade embargo against Libya
1987 – 1990 – Libya’s first attempt at liberalization, second wave of initiatives after 1990

April 1992 – 1999 UN multilateral sanctions

1993 – More economic reforms based on promoting tourism

1997 – General People Congress adopted Law 5. Allowing for foreign direct investment in the country.

Points to consider for further research:

Role of independent vs. major player oil companies in shaping Libya’s domestic policy. Role of the government in appropriating oil production? Constraints? (Occidental, LNOC, Exxon, Mobil, Elf-Aquitaine, Lipetco (Libya investment co)

Oil shocks and unregulated budgets contribution to civil unrest?

To what degree did the government’s policies towards nationalization of industry to include retailing outlets promote informal market development compared to that of US and UN sanctions?

Duso – check out an opposition publications by the National Front for the Salvation of Libya
– Salvation Forces – military wing