Libya: What Went Wrong in 2011?

Abstract

In the spring of 2011, the events in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and other countries, the Arab Awakening/Arab Spring, brought reports of escalating violence and heavy-handed response of authorities. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi to stop violence and to start the transition to a new democratic system of governance in Libya. The Security Council made a historic decision and invoked its responsibility to protect civilians from violence. Whatever the initial intention, NATO air strikes caused great controversy, deteriorating humanitarian situation, destruction, civilian casualties and regime change. Libya descended into an unprecedented violence between rival armed formations and became a launch pad for thousands of migrants.