Libya

Short animation explaining why international policymakers must develop strategies to transform elite bargains into accountable political systems.

Football in the Arab world has long served as a forum for debate about autocratic power and violence, and it has encouraged social solidarity.

As Libya’s war economy persists, prospects for the restoration of functioning central governance become more distant.

Given the continuing existence of rival political institutions and a competitive and divided security sector in Libya, discussion of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration is often viewed as premature. But while there is no blueprint for DDR across Libya as a whole, there is already scope for planning according to local contexts.

Political settlements in Iraq, Lebanon and Libya have long relied on deals between elites to ensure ‘stability’, but the resulting power-sharing systems fuel corruption and have led to disastrous governance failings. To improve the daily lives of citizens under these settlements, international policymakers must focus on increasing the accountability of elites.

Episode 27 of our weekly podcast examines the Syrian regime with signs that governments in the Middle East are prepared to engage with Bashar al-Assad again.

Short animation explaining why international policymakers must develop strategies to transform elite bargains into accountable political systems.

The case of Kufra raises difficult questions for policymakers over what interventions to support in places that have come to thrive on illicit cross-border trade.

Football in the Arab world has long served as a forum for debate about autocratic power and violence, and it has encouraged social solidarity.

Talks between factions provided hope, then frustration. It’s time for international powers to assist rather than interfere, says Zaid Al-Ali.

The clock is ticking for the UN Special Representative to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, who must outline his plans before his window of opportunity snaps shut.

Examining the crossover between water security and climate change with the next two COPs taking place in regions with a history of being water stressed.

Turkey benefits from NATO’s Strategic Concept and is in a celebratory mood over a new deal with Sweden and Finland. But interpretation is the key to success.

A renewed governance split in Libya is blocking progress on agreeing an electoral framework. Ending the standoff over state spending could break the impasse.

What role are women playing in rebuilding Libya’s political institutions?

As European governments provide swift protection assurances to those fleeing Ukraine, non-European asylum-seekers continue to face violence at the EU’s borders.

How can we make sense of the transnational repercussions of war?

Experiences from the MENA region show that successful energy subsidy reforms must focus strongly on mitigating social impacts.

To tackle corruption in the MENA region, the international community must prioritize accountability over stability.

The international community must ensure a clear and workable election process if Libya is to achieve stability, argue Tim Eaton and Tarek Megerisi

This paper examines the rise of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and whether it still has a role in Libya’s future.

In a series exploring women in international affairs, Alanoud Alsharekh and Azadeh Pourzand speak to Gitika Bhardwaj about the evolution of women’s rights across the Middle East.

The extraordinary story of Libya’s overseas investments and seemingly endless battles over their control.

Libya’s new Government of National Unity (GNU) faces big administrative hurdles and a limited mandate.

March 17, 2011: Action broke consensus on need to protect civilians, says Dogachan Dagi

Examining key issues for the new US administration such as the Iran nuclear deal, Iraq crisis, chaos in Libya and Syria, and Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Libya is in the midst of its third bout of civil war in less than a decade, with no near end in sight.

This paper explores armed group–community relations in Libya and the sources of revenue that have allowed armed groups to grow in power and influence.

Matthew Brubacher on the benefits of switching to solar power

A new effort to manage the economy, one that brings together both sides of the war with international partners, is an essential step forward.

The oil-rich country is supposed to provide cheap, subsidized fuel to its citizens. But amid continuing violence and instability, up to one-third goes missing from official supply chains each year, fuelling a black market that ultimately steals from state coffers at the expense of the population.

This report examines the common economic factors that continue to drive conflict in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. It also makes specific recommendations to Western policymakers addressing these types of sub-economies in detail.