About the Paper
Since the revolution in 2011 and the toppling of the long-standing regime of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has experienced various degrees of political instability and conflict. A succession of internationally supported “transitions” have failed to bring the Libyan people a functioning state with a clear social contract based on a shared vision for the nation. This paper discusses the present challenges for good local governance as perceived by Libyan citizens and institutional actors. Through this lens, recommendations are offered for immediate, short-, and medium-term initiatives that can support the improvement of citizen relations with the three traditional arms of the state—the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
About the Authors
Andrew Cheatham is a senior expert on global policy at the United States Institute of Peace and was formerly a conflict prevention adviser at the United Nations Development Programme.
Mohamed Fortia is a program officer at the United States Institute of Peace and was formerly a governance officer at the United Nations Development Programme.
Nathaniel Wilson was the country manager for Libya at the United States Institute of Peace at the time of this paper’s drafting. He is now a foreign service officer serving in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of the U.S. government.
This research was funded by USIP’s Libya Program, which is solely responsible for the accuracy and thoroughness of the content. The views expressed in this discussion paper are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Institute of Peace.