Product Description
Libya is coming in from the cold, but for most of the three decades following Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's self-styled revolution in 1969, the country was politically isolated and labelled a pariah state.Dirk Vandewalle, one of only a handful of Western scholars to visit the country during this time, is intimately acquainted with Libya.He offers a lucid and comprehensive account of Libya's past, and corrects some of the misunderstandings about its present. The story begins in the 1900s with a portrait of Libya's desert terrain and the personalities that shaped its development. Professor Vandewalle then covers Libya's history during the Italian colonial period (1911-1943) and the monarchy that ruled between 1951 and 1969. He goes on to discuss the subsequent regime of Colonel Qadhafi and the economic, political, and ideological developments that he engendered. Finally, he describes the most recent events that brought Libya back into the international fold.As the first comprehensive history of Libya over the last two decades, this book will be welcomed by scholars and students of North Africa, the Middle East, and by those who are visiting and doing business in the region.Diederik (Dirk) Vandewalle is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, and former chair of its Asian and Middle Eastern Studies program.His academic specialty focuses on the political economy of North Africa, and on strategies of political and economic liberalization in the region. Vandewalle is the author of Libya Since Independence: Oil and State-building ( 1998), editor of two volumes on Libya and North Africa, and author of numerous journal articles. He has received, among a number of awards, a Fulbright and Social Science Research Council grant for his research, and has been a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Institute of International Development and at Harvard's Center of Middle Eastern Studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Weak History of Libya Since the Ottoman Period
This is a concise history of modern Libya, with token background from the Ottoman period, slightly more detail from the Italian colonial period, and the vast majority of its focus on the monarchy (1951-1969) and the Qadhafi period (1969 to present).The author deals almost exclusively with political and economic history, with very little attention to cultural or religious themes.

Even on such limited terms, the book fails in a number of ways.First, Vandewalle has an odd habit of not defining terms that a reader of such a general history might find useful.For example, he refers often to the Sublime Porte -- a term that a general student of the Middle East and especially of the Ottoman Empire ought to know, certainly, but probably not familiar to the general reader.Another example is the Bab al-Aziziyya, which the author defines on page 150, but which he began using on page 121 (without any hint that a definition was forthcoming).

Second, and more importantly, the book lacks a surprising amount of detail.We are informed that a small group accomplished a coup against King Idris in September, 1969, but we are told almost nothing else: where did the coup happen?How did it happen?Perhaps a palace was stormed, or military installations seized?We are not even told of the fate of King Idris -- was he executed, banished, imprisoned, or left alone?These are all natural questions when dealing with something as momentous as the coup that changed Libya from a shaky kingdom to a radical, terrorist-sponsoring anti-state.

We are informed that two Libyan planes were shot down over the Gulf of Sirt after some kind of dispute.What was the nature of the dispute?Again, we are not told.And very frequently, as with the Gulf of Sirt incident and the Lockerbie bombing, Vandewalle makes allusion to the matter long before offering what scant detail he does provide, meaning the reader must already have some basic background or be left with no means of evaluating the validity of the author's interpretation.

As to that last point, another clear weakness of the book is that the footnotes are extremely sparse.Generalization is far more forgivable where the author directs the conscientious student to further information.That said, this book is a slim 206 pages of text -- the author easily could have added more helpful material without making the book unwieldly.

One final, important weakness is that the author frequently jumps around chronologically, resulting in a confused narrative.Again, the author assumes too much familiarity on the part of the reader, which familiarity makes little sense given the scope of the book.

EDIT: I recommend Libya: From Colony to Independence, by Ronald Bruce St. John, for readers interested in the subject.

Libya as of today.
I thought the book would give a modern view of customs ,geography and archytecture of this country but it was'nt like this.Instead the political history is presented which by the way is written very well.
I know quite a lot of this history as Libya was my second home for years but I feel a bit neglected when the book tells nothing about the people of this region.

Libya Is Back
Libya has recently emerged from its diplomatic and economic isolation. It has settled its scores with the European Union and with the US. After some half-hearted attempts to liberalize its economy, it has now embarked in a genuine program of economic reforms, recruiting world experts to help in the effort.

These international experts will be well inspired to read and meditate Dirk Vandewalle's History of Modern Libya. If only to learn the lessons from their predecessors: from its independence in 1951 to the end of the Sanusi monarchy in 1969, the country benefited from a wealth of advisory reports, background studies, and strategic plans originating from international financial agencies. At first, these reports projected the country's future as, at best, one of hard-scrabble survival and, perhaps eventually, a modest level of economic growth and development.

This changed, literally almost overnight, when oil started coursing through the veins of a barely existing economy that could suddenly produce great riches. Oil revenues allowed King Idris al-Sanusi, and then Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, to create and maintain social contracts with their subjects that relied overwhelmingly on distributing largesses rather on perfecting the state.

This was partly to blame for the low sense of political community Libya still faces today, and for the depolitization of its citizen. Ever since 1969 - or perhaps more precisely since the publication of The Green Book - Libya has pursued a policyof statelessness that, at least in theory, puts all powers in the hand of the people. Ironically, as statelessness was pursued, virtually all economic activity within the country came under state control.

The result was the emergence of a state that was seemingly highly autonomous, but without much regulatory capacity, exacerbated by an ideology that celebrated this hollowing-out of state power and regulatory capabilities while projecting a sense of community forits citizen that consistently targeted units below or above the state: kinship, family, tribe, Islam, Arab nationalism, African unity.

In light of this history, the current wave of reforms is greeted by the author with cautious optimism: "While there are signs of pragmatism and of the realization among Libyan policymakers of the need for greater efficiency, there are few indications that the country's system of governance is changing or that a process of accountability is being implemented. (...) The remaining bifurcation between the formal and the informal in the country's political life, the amorphous status of Qadhafi within its political system, the inability to oppose the revolution, the lack of accountability by the country's security sector apparatuses, and the lack of clear succession rules: these challenges Libya will need to address if its proclaimed aims of reforms are to take root."

Excellant and up-to-date reference
As an expat living in Libya since August 2005 I read this book with focused interest. It has greatly helped me understandmy government bureaucratic customer. And this new insight has reduced my fustration and increased my effectiveness. ... Read more

Product Description
In the past half-century, Libya's history has been dominated by the figure of Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, the leader whom Nelson Mandela dubbed one of the revolutionary icons of our time. 'Libya' details the struggles of the state from Greek settlements in the fifth century BC to the infamous Lockerbie bombing. An enlightening introduction to the land which has been reviled by the West for decades as a repressive and hostile regime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent History of Libya
The increased interest in modern Libya is unsurprising, as this former pariah comes in from the cold.This book is an excellent history that will be useful to the student, businessman or casual reader.Although the sub-headline is "From Colony to Independence," it actually covers the first archaeological evidence of nomadic tribes to the present day.The prose is always readable, providing details without bogging down the reader.I read this right after Dirk Vandewalle's history of Libya, and I find this book superior in almost every way.

Chapter 1 covers the earliest history of the regions that became Libya, until the beginning of the Ottoman era.Chapters 2 and 3 cover the Ottoman and Italian periods, respectively.Chapter 4 covers the post-World War II period until independence.Chapter 5 covers the Kingdom of Libya.The remaining four chapters all focus on the Qaddhafi period.Therefore, the reader who is only interested in modern Libya may find the first 132 pages tedious, but St. John's design is to show the impact that the past has had on Libya's present.

St John does a much better job of writing a coherent narrative, and providing interesting details, than Vandewalle.He provides more information on the end of the Kingdom, on Qaddhafi's pan-Arabism and later pan-Africanism, on Libya's relationship with the West, and on post-World War II wrangling by the major powers.

There are only two minor issues.Vandewall's book has more useful maps.Vandewalle also includes much more detail on Libya's oil reserves and policies.Presumably, much interest in a book on modern Libya will be from those who want to do business in the oil sector.But because that is not my primary interest, I did not miss such details. ... Read more

Product Description
This book argues that the 1986 American bombing of Libya represented an act of desperation by then-president Ronald Reagan in order to salvage American credibility in the Arab world. The author asserts that such credibility had been severely undermined by Reagan's earlier decision to enhance the strategic alliance between the U.S. and Israel, and that the 1986 bombing specifically targeted Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi as one of the foremost Middle Eastern threats to American security. Finally, the author asserts that the Libyan bombings served as a significant foreshadowing of the current Iraq War and as a powerful illustration of the United States' historical willingness to use military power in order to preserve American economic and strategic interests in the Middle East. ... Read more

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Libya is a typical example of a colonial or external creation. This book addresses the emergence and construction of nation and nationalism, particularly among Libyan exiles in the Mediterranean region. It charts the rise of nationalism from the colonial era and shows how it developed through an external Libyan diaspora and the influence of Arab nationalism.

From 1911, following the Italian occupation, the first nucleus of Libyan nationalism formed through the activities of Libyan exiles. Through experiences undergone during periods of exile, new structures of loyalty and solidarity were formed. The new and emerging social groups were largely responsible for creating the associations that ultimately led to the formation of political parties at the eve of independence.

Exploring the influence of colonial rule and external factors on the creation of the state and national identity, this critical study not only provides a clear outline of how Libya was shaped through its borders and boundaries but also underlines the strong influence that Eastern Arab nationalism had on Libyan nationalism. An important contribution to history of Libya and nationalism, this work will be of interest to all scholars of African and Middle Eastern history.

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John Wright begins his history of Libya as far back as prehistoric times and concludes with the fortieth anniversary of the Gadafi revolution. Wright briefly shares the story of the territory's early hunter-gatherers and the activities of its mid-desert Garamantian civilization. Then he travels briskly through the land's successive invaders: the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Muslim Arabs, Genoans, Normans, Spaniards, Knights of Malta, Ottoman Turks, and semi-independent Karamanlis. He traces the routes of the ancient trans-Saharan black slave trade, which involved ports in Tripoli, Benghazi, the eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Aegean Sea, and the Levant, and he highlights Tripoli's nineteenth-century role in enabling European exploration of the desert.

Wright's modern history centers on the Italian era (1911-1943), addressing the harshness of Italy's long conquest yet giving credit to the material achievements of Air Marshal Italo Balbo. His fair and comprehensive overview enables a clearer understanding of subsequent events, which are covered in three chapters: Libya's largely passive role in the Second World War; 1951's fairly smooth transition to an early, internationally-brokered independence; the Sanussi monarchy, which reigned for eighteen years; the discovery and exploitation of oil in the 1950s and 1960s; and the post-1969 Gadafi phenomenon.

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Second edition of the provocative study analyzing the social, cultural, and historical roots of modern Libya. ... Read more

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This book charts in detail the West's response, particularly that of the US, to Libya's possible involvement in the bombing of the Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie in 1988. ... Read more

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To be a tourist in Libya during the period of Italian colonization was to be surrounded by modern metropolitan culture, including its systems of transportation and accommodation and its hierarchies of political and social control, as well as indigenous architecture and culture. Architecture and Tourism in Italian Colonial Libya shows how Italian authorities in Libya made use of the contradictory forces of modernity and tradition to both legitimize their colonial enterprise and construct a vital tourist industry. Although one of the essential goals of tourists was to escape the boundaries of the metropole in favor of experiencing "difference," that difference was almost always framed, contained, and even defined by Western culture.

McLaren argues that the "modern" and the "traditional" were entirely constructed by colonial authorities, who balanced their need to project an image of a modern and efficient network of travel and accommodation with the necessity of preserving the characteristic qualities of the indigenous culture. What made the tourist experience in Libya distinct from that of other tourist destinations was the constant oscillation between modernizing and preservation tendencies. The movement between these forces is reflected in the structure of the book, which proceeds from the broadest level of inquiry into the Fascist colonial project in Libya to the tourist organization itself, and finally into the architecture of the tourist environment, offering a way of viewing state-driven modernization projects and notions of modernity from a historical and geographic perspective.

This is an important book for architectural historians and for those interested in colonial and postcolonial studies, as well as Italian studies, African history, literature, and cultural studies more generally. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fascinating Review of Architectural History in Colonial Libya
If you are a student or admirer of colonial Italian architecture, then this book is a must.

Rare photos and illustrations, historical background detail and an uncompromised addition to your collection ofrare books.

This subject is little written about. So the book will be hard to come by in the future.

I suggest you get this book and NEVER lend it out.
... Read more

Product Description
The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, more commonly known as Libya, rests at the intersection of three worlds--Arab, African, and Mediterranean. Early African trade routes passing through Libya linked Central Africa with the North African Coast and the cultures of the Mediterranean sea. Libya's present-day strategic location, combined with its extensive oil reserves and revolutionary leadership, have kept this sparsely populated state at the forefront of nightly news for nearly three decades. Much is discussed yet little is understood, and Libya remains an enigma in world affairs. Its internal and external policies often provoke wide-ranging sentiment, from praise to anger to fear to outright scorn. The third edition of the "Historical Dictionary of Libya" provides a much needed update on the old traditions and new developments of modern Libya. The book covers the early periods of Libyan history, adding background on many of its current internal struggles and much of the impetus of its modern political positions. The United Kingdom of Libya was the first North African area to achieve statehood (in 1951) and emerge from under the auspices of the United Nations. In 1969, the Revolutionary Command Council seized power from the monarchy and redirected the policies of the former regime. This book provides a valuable frame of reference to investigate the policies of the two radically different governments of 20th-century, independent Libya. Other significant changes have occurred with this edition. New entries have been added, particularly concerning the social and economic system of Libya after 1991. Additionally, outside influences on Libyan history have been clarified. Crucial entries such as The United States, Qaddafi, Chemical Weapons, September Revolution, and Revolutionary Committees, have been completely rewritten to present the most accurate, up-to-date information available. The bibliography has been expanded considerably to incorporate new material published in recent years. Several appendixes have been added to the third edition of the " Dictionary" to provide easy access to background information and detailed, focused studies of Libya. Finally a series of maps, also newly added with this edition, provide visual reference to the territorial disputes in which Libya has been embroiled during this century. So much of Libya is shrouded in misinformation and mystery. This third edition of the "Historical Dictionary of Libya" goes farther than ever to provide a concise, handy source of accurate information on one of the modern world's most enigmatic states. Reviews of the Previous Edition: "A major contribution of this work is the comprehensive and very well organized bibliography...a useful work for both the specialist and the amateur." --MESA BULLETIN "...important...As a very basic introduction, outline, and ready reference tool for modern Libya, this edition is highly recommended." --CHOICE "...a remarkably accessible assembly of useful information...a good buy." --LIBYAN STUDIES ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Just one question!
Having spent some ten years in Libya,I found this to be an enjoyable, and very readable book on a most significant, though generally overlooked area of Greco-Roman antiquity. There is still a vast amount of excavation needed, and politics have not helped.There is one point on which I should take issue, however:The author refers to the city of 'Lepcis' in Tripolitania. Either she knows of an alternative spelling, or this is a serious typo. To my knowledge, she is referring to the city of Leptis Magna.

Fascinating topic marred by poor photos
The Roman ruins of Libya have been seen by very few Westerners in recent decades. They are in a remarkable state of preservation. The enormous basilica of Septimus Severus at Leptis Magna, while a ruin, looks like it could easily be put back together to it's former glory. The excellent state of preservation is due both to the desert climate and to the near complete absence of tourism. Eric Newby writing in "On the Shores of the Mediterranean" describes the difficulties he went through in arranging a visit under the Quadaffi government. This book was produced by Italian archaeologists who remarkably have been able to continue their field work during Libya's current international isolation. The book is marred by the poor reproduction of the photos. The pictures are almost all underexposed with muddy shadow areas, flat highlights and an overall lack of contrast. A pity but the book is still worthwhile for a look at sites that most people will never be able to see.

Roman Civilizations-Buried by Sand
This book is magnificent.The first 180 pages are devoted to the western province of Tripolitania, where ruins of the Roman cities of Sabratha, Oea(present-day Tripoli),and Leptis Magna are located along the NorthAfrican coastline in the Gulf of Sirte. The next 50-odd pages cover theeastern province of Cyrenaica toward Egypt where the Greco-Roman cities ofCyrene, Apollonia, and Ptolemais are found.

The photographs of thesecities are without a doubt some of the finest in existence.Heretofore,Ihave only seen random scenes of these ancient cities, but nothing organizedin a book like this.

Unless one has been to Lybia,as I have,it isdifficult to imagine the splendor of these ruins.Greco-Roman ruins inEurope pale in comparison.A primary reason for their preservation is thedry climate,and their burial for 1000 yearsby the shifting sands of theSahara from the 9th century A.D. Excavations began in the early 20thcentury.

The Italian authors are experts in archeological research of theRoman era,specifically in North Africa where they have conducted manymissions. Their knowledge of the rise and fall of these wealthy,elegant,andpowerful cities and their importance to Rome is well presented in the textthroughout the book. The writers describe what life must have been like inthese cities,and provide accurate maps and reconstructions of theiroriginal dimensions where still buried by sand.

For anyone interested inthe period of history when these cities flourished-7th century B.C. toabout the 4th century A.D.-this book is a must. If you don't like toread-just look at the pictures.

Good-looking picture book on Roman ruins
This is a beautiful book showing some of the extensive Roman ruins left in North Africa.Highly recommended for enthusiasts and browsers.

The book is pretty large, and the pictures are clear and give you a good sense ofthe urban spaces pictured. ... Read more

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This Adelphi Paper examines the motives behind Libya’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, from Gadhafi’s rise to power in 1969 through to the end of 2003. It also assesses the proliferation pathways that the regime followed during this period, including early dependence on Soviet technology and assistance, subsequently relying on technological infusions from the A.Q. Khan network.

Wyn Q. Bowen clearly analyzes the decision to give up the quest for nuclear weapons, focusing on the main factors that influenced the Gadhafi regime’s calculations, including the perceived need to re-engage, both politically and economically, with the international community, particularly the United States. It explores the process of dismantling the nuclear programme and the question of whether Libya constitutes a ‘model’ for addressing the challenges posed by other proliferators.

Customer Reviews (1)

Concise Description of Qaddafi's Reasons
This is aperfectly sized pamphlet-sized softcover for the subject of why Libya gave up its nascent nukes program. It succintly summarizes the confluence of sanctions effects, a growing domestic jihadist movement, the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the realization that the world that wrought Qaddafi's revolution in 1969 was quite different from the 21st century geopolitical scene.Qaddafi awoke to the fact that despite billions poured into research and infrastructural development Libya was still far from being capable of producing sufficient fissile material for a credible deterrent program. It made sense for him to trade a car on blocks for real transportation, i.e, tangible benefits, such as normalization with the USA. In truth, this ws a case of "Clunker Nukes for US Cash." ... Read more

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This book describes the principal events which have shaped contemporary Libya, from independence to the Lockerbie affair. It reviews Libya's independence process, its territorial disputes with neighbors, the many abuses of human rights perpetrated by the Qadhafi regime, state terrorism and the US manipulation of the United Nations in its confrontation with Libya.
... Read more

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Libya has not always been the easiest of places for outsiders to visit or travel in. Yet over the four centuries covered in this book (1550-1911), foreign visitors and travellers have included captives and military recruits; resident European consuls; explorers seeking to reveal the mysteries of unknown Africa; archaeologists drawn by the remains of past civilisations; would-be colonisers assessing the agricultural potential of the region; and the leisured tourist of the late nineteenth century seeking the unusual, the quaint and the exotic. The fifty or so excerpts in this anthology bring us a mosaic of impressions of unknown places, handed down to us by the visitors and travellers who experienced them at first hand. ... Read more

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The Emergence of Libya is a collection of pieces published over thirty-five years in a diversity of periodicals which include Encounter, Africa, The Maghreb Review, Slavery and Abolition and, most abundantly, Libyan Studies. In this selection, read about ...
- why, in about 1860, Britain lost its earlier enthusiasm for Tripoli and the Sahara as a 'Gateway to Africa';
- what made the Zionist movement drop plans to settle one million East European Jews in Cyrenaica;
- why Mussolini accepted the 'Sword of Islam' in Tripoli in 1937;
- why Libya had such an easy passage to independence in 1951;
- how as a young leader, Moammar Gaddafi was publicly ridiculed by an Arab leader nearly old enough to be his grandfather, who claimed that the Libyans were still living in the days of Adam and Eve.
These are just some of the issues covered in the twenty-one essays in this book. ... Read more