The History and Current Conflict of Lybia

The current uprising in Libya is not the first large-scale rise of rebel movements in this country. There is a history in Libya of armed protest movements against governmental and societal discrepancies.  Libya

Since the 19th century up to and during the colonial period, Libya has had a very strong societal influence on the central and state levels.

The traditions of contesting the state have always been strong. When the Italians invaded Libya in 1911 they could not conquer the country, due to a very well organized volunteer army that resisted the central invasion in the north until 1931.

This is to say that Libya has had strong societal forces that are very concerned about keeping their communities and autonomy and not allowing the central government determine every aspect of their affairs.

Although the current strife over oil and territory have begun a struggle and crackdown on protesters by Moammar Gadhafi and his retaliation has been very violent, the protesters reacted differently than what would have been expected by the government. 

The protesters moved more quickly to armed resistance. The civilian casualties seem to have strengthened the opposition’s resolve; and Libyans who are generally opposed to foreign intervention, are seeking help to fight against the Libyan government in order to apply pressure on the government and bankrupt the regime of its power. Libya


All in all this appears to be a conflict that has a zero sum propensity; where one side wins at the loss/cost of the opposite party.  The conflict has already become tragically destructive  due to the senseless loss of lives; and the more one party tries to compete in order to defeat the other the more loss occurs. 

This is an intergoup/international conflict to where both sides need to come to an amicable resolution or call in third party aid as a measure to end the downward spiral effects of the war. 

Libya at this point it at a very destructive conflict stage with dangerous moves and counter moves, that have brought about such negative patterns of behavior. 

The relationship has always been strained between the government and its people and most likely will always be; as the government desires a "central" headship and the people desire a democracy.  The fact being that with intergroup/international differences being more competitive and less cooperative, a controlling style used by the government will never work to reach agreements needed to end the war.  Collaboration needs to occur, by negotiating and working out the differences, bringing about a compromise which allows both sides to 'split the difference'. and end the violence in order to live peaceably.