Abstract:
This research work is motivated by the recent development in the Arab World popularly referred to as the “Arab spring”. This began as a wave of protest against the autocratic regime of Ben Ali in Tunisia and spread through the region of North Africa and the Middle East. The Libyan experience which led the killing of the Libyan dictator, Col. Muammar Qadhafi has led many to question the principles of democracy in this globalized world. It has equally fuelled the debate on the justification for external military intervention and the place of sovereignty in a globalized world. Based on this, three research questions were raised and three hypotheses formed to address them. The objective was to understand the factors that contributed to the Libyan crisis and the consequences for Libya so as to curb the eruption of similar crisis. The method of data collection used was unstructured non-participatory observation and data source include books, journals and internet materials. Data gathered were critically examined and analysed. It was discovered that Col. Muammar Qadhafi’s regime lacked the basic features of democracy such as civil liberty, press freedom and political participation; this together with his brutal suppression of opposition created the platform for the civil unrest that toppled his regime. It was also discovered that the external military intervention undertaken in Libya was not necessary, instead it served the purpose of enabling foreign powers safeguard their interest in the country and by extension, Africa. And finally, that the involvement of the foreign powers in Libya's transition to democracy constitutes acts of infringement on the state’s sovereignty. Among the recommendations given is that democracy activist should allow democratic transition to make its own organic growth, compatible with the society and culture from which it emanated.
