Libya in the Arab Spring: The Constitutional Discourse since the Fall of Gaddafi

This book sketches the discourseabout a new constitution in Libya since 2011. Applying a discourse analyticalapproach, the author identifies societal cleavages that have come to the forein Libya''s transitional period. The debate has focused on democracy,federalism, decentralisation and localisation, the role of religion, women inpolitics as well as ethnic minorities. The strategies followed to ensurerepresentation in the constitutional process have included civil disobedience,affirmative action and force. The effects of raising demands in these ways havebeen changes in the constitutional process and institutional design of Libya''sinterim political institutions rather than promises that particular demands asto the content of the constitution would be met. The general prevention of apublic discourse and competition along societal cleavages under Gaddafi''stotalitarian ideology has resulted in an all-out resurgence of splits alongethnic, regional and other lines.The work was awarded the Christoph SchumannMemorial Prize of the University of Erlangen.