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Tribalism And Democratic Transition In Libya: Lessons From Iraq, Christine N. Myers

Global Tides

This paper explores the historic role of tribalism in colonial Iraq and Libya as well as its prevalence and role in the countries today and its effects on democratic state-formation. It discusses the ideology and actions of the Ba’athist Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq and the Jamahiriya under Muahmmar Gaddafi including the regimes' attempts to exploit tribal loyalties to bolster their power. The paper also explores the role of the tribe in the governments of Libya and Iraq after Hussein and Gaddafi were removed from power. It explores problems tribalism poses to democratization in modern-day Libya and Iraq. These threats …