COMPARATIVE REVOLUTIONS

AND A CASE FOR LIBYA

Using Historical Precedent to Structure Understanding of Current Events

Background on Libya

Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has been in power for over 40 years

Lost relations with the US after a mob attack on the American Embassy in 1979

The US bombed targets in Tripoli and Benghazi in response to Libya’s bombing of a German discothèque

Libya acknowledged responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland, which killed 270 people

Background on Libya

In 2003, Qaddafi re-established diplomatic and economic ties with Europe and the US

Qaddafi shared intelligence files on Al Qaeda with the US, and has cooperated with the US and Europe on nuclear weapons and terrorism.

In 2004, the US reopened trade with the Libyan government. Since then, Qaddafi has personally engaged with US companies including Boeing, ConocoPhillips, Occidental, and Halliburton.

Qaddafi and these US companies were brought together by the US Commerce Department, which acted as a self-described “matchmaker.”

Background on Libya

Out of business negotiations with the US companies,

Qaddafi extracted signing bonuses worth millions of

dollars.

This wealth has allowed Qaddafi and his

government to maintain control of Libya despite

economic sanctions in 2011, as the money has been

employed by Qaddafi to pay his troops,

mercenaries, and supporters.

Background on Libya

Since Qaddafi’s troops first fired on protesters in

Tripoli on Feb. 25, the Libyan opposition movement

has grown faster than it can be organized.

Though the United Nations has authorized military

force in order to protect Libyan civilians, the US and

European powers have restricted intervention to

instating a “no-flight zone” over Libya, and it is

uncertain whether this action will effectively remove

Qaddafi from power.

Current Debate:

Should the US continue to intervene?

To what extent should it intervene?

What will be the repercussions of action (and

inaction)?

How do

revolutions from

history mirror

what is

happening in

Libya?

Questions to answer:

Why did this rebellion take place?

Who were the major parties?

How did those parties conduct the revolution?

What was the outcome of the revolution?

Drawing from your knowledge about historical

revolutions as well as current events, outline a policy

proposal on what course, if any, the United States

ought to take regarding the current situation in

Libya.

Detail specific strategies

Support your reasoning with facts and examples

Homework Assignment

Write a one to two page explanation of how

historical precedent can be used to guide

contemporary policy decisions. What other

examples from history can be used to consider

current events in Libya? How might politicians use

historical examples to justify their policies? How

does historical interpretation affect this practice?

Due Monday, March 4th