Published July 19, 2012 By Felipe Umaña Briefing CCPPR12LY Report available in PDF and Flash formats

Before the 2011 revolution and civil war, Libya was a beacon of success on the African continent, albeit a paradoxical one. In 2009, for instance, Libya boasted the highest human development index score in Africa, and was also amongst the five best performers in terms of GDP per capita. And yet, the country’s eastern region saw — and continues to see — little economic development. The rule of law and the state’s legitimacy declined markedly during dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s near 42-year rule, while Gaddafi’s unorthodox and frequently bizarre antics won the country international pariah status for many years, in part due to the regime’s links to global terrorism.

The 2011 violence left Libya with much to rebuild, in terms of both physical infrastructure and the social, economic, and political fabric of the nation. Numerous buildings and roads, as well as key oil facilities, sustained heavy damage as a result of the struggle between pro-Gaddafi forces and the National Transitional Council (NTC) rebels.

The 16.2 point worsening between 2011-2012 was the largest year-on-year change for a country in the 8-year history of the Failed States Index, underscoring the seriousness of the situation in Libya. Post-war Libya faces myriad threats to its future development, not least of which is the existence a youthful population clamoring for jobs and increased economic growth despite the country’s current state of disarray.

View the Full Report

Download the Report in PDF Format

Latest Update: 2012-07 Felipe Umaña

Copyright (C) The Fund for Peace