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The Ideology of Mu'ammar Al-Qadhdhafi: Theory and Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2009

Ronald Bruce St John
Affiliation:
Institute of International Studies Bradley University

Extract

While the literature on ideology is long-standing and considerable, it is also very controversial. On the one hand, the term ideology remains in such poor repute that many authors apologize for using it or substitute other words or expressions. On the other, many scholars employ the term without definition as though its meaning was well understood.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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References

NOTES

1 Bendix, Reinhard, “The Age of Ideology: Persistent and Changing,” in Apter, David E., ed., Ideology and Discontent (New York, 1964), pp. 294295;Google ScholarRejwan, Nissim, Nasserist Ideology: Its Exponents and Critics (Jerusalem, 1974), p. 1.Google Scholar

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5 The national leader has been described as the individual who “always sets the tone and articulates the main thematic qualities of what might be called the official ideology.” Bill, James A. and Leiden, Carl. The Middle East: Politics and Power (Boston, 1974), P. 228. Qadhdhafi largely occupied this role from the early days of the revolution and totally dominated it by the mid-1970s.Google Scholar

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8 Qadhdhafi's early practice of repeating Nāsir's speeches almost verbatim, regardless of the changes in time and circumstances, became a standing joke in the Arab world. First, Ruth, Libya: The Elusive Revolution (Harmondsworth, Middlesex, 1974). p. 218.Google Scholar Sensitive to such criticism, Qadhdhafi described the Libyan revolution as a “continuation” of Nāsir's revolution but not a mirror image. He explained, “the Egyptian charter is not a Koran and is liable to change.” Ansell and al-Arif. Libyan. p. 280.Google Scholar

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10 The government structure outlined in the temporary constitution has become largely irrelevant to the system of people's committees and revolutionary committees which developed after 1973. I have discussed the evolution of the current system of government elsewhere; and while the popular revolution in government is a part of Qadhdhafi's ideology, there is no need to repeat that discussion here. Alexander, Nathan [Ronald Bruce St John, “Libya: The Continuous Revolution,” Middle Eastern Studies, 17, 2 (04 1981). pp. 210227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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20 By late 1973. Qadhdhafi was able to boast that his policy had succeeded in isolating Israel from Africa. Mu'Ammar el Qathafi, Discourses, (Valetta, Malta, 1975), pp. 32 and 118–119.Google Scholar

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24 Ajami, Fouad, The Arab Predicament: Arab Political Thought and Practice Since 1967 (Cambridge, 1981), pp. 199200.Google ScholarFor an introduction to the Third Universal Theory, see the speech given by Qadhdhafi to the opening session of the International Conference of Youth in Tripoli on 14 May 1973. FBIS-MEA, 16 May 1973, pp. T1–T9 and 12 August 1980, p. 11.Google ScholarThe Libyan Arab Republic, Ministry of Information and Culture (hereafter LAR), The Fundamentals of the Third International Theory (Tripoli, 1974), pp. 3 and 14–16.Google Scholar

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26 Gadhafi, Aspects of the Third Theory, p. 38.Google Scholar

27 Gadhafi, Divine Concept, pp. 86–117; Libyan Arab Republic, Ministry of Information and Culture, The Third International Theory: The Divine Concept of Islam and the Popular Revolution in Libya (Tripoli, 1973), pp. 11–15. Qadhdhafi's catholic concept of Islam is not new, as similar ideas were expressed by Antun Sa'adah, the founder of the Syrian Nationalist Party, and the Ba'th ideologue Zaki Arsuzi.Google Scholar

28 FBIS-ME4, 21 August 1980, pp. 12–16.Google Scholar In contrast, Michel 'Aflaq of the Syrian Ba'th Party argued that Arab nationalism comprehends Islam but is superior to it. Binder, Leonard, The Ideological Revolution in the Middle East (New York, 1964), p. 168.Google Scholar

29 Qadhdhafi has stated that the first chapter of The Green Book is his interpretation of a phrase from the Koran, “They shall run their affairs by consultation.” JPRS 70813, No. 1772, pp. 130–131.Google ScholarFBIS-MEA, 1 September 1981, pp. Q10–Q13;Google ScholarAl-Fajr al-Jadid, July 4, 1978, p. 4.Google Scholar Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Afghani also found inspiration in the Koran for a democratic consultative assembly. Khadduri, Majid, Political Trends in the Arab World: The Role of Ideas and Ideals in Politics (Baltimore, 1979), pp. 2930.Google Scholar

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34 Gadhafi, Concept of Jihad, p. 53.Google Scholar

35 FBIS-MEA, 18 October 1978, pp. 16–17 and 11 March 1981, p. Q3.Google Scholar

36 Ansell and al-Arif, Libyan, pp. 115–117. An Association for the Propagation of Islam was also founded in 1970 to train Muslim missionaries. By 1977, the Association had reportedly fielded 350 missionaries, only two of which were Libyans. Daniel Pipes, “No One Likes the Colonel,” The American Spectator, 14, 3 (March 1981), pp. 18–22.Google Scholar

37 Ansell and al-Arif, Libyan, p. 131.Google Scholar

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39 “Col. El-Gathafi's Press Conference,” Progressive Libya, June 1973, p. 8;Google ScholarFallaci, Oriana, “Iranians are Our Brothers: An Interview with Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya,” New York Times Magazine, 12 16, 1979, p. 125.Google Scholar

40 Rouleau, Eric, “The Palestinian Quest,” Foreign Affairs, 53, 2 (01, 1975), pp. 264283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

41 FBIS-MEA, 4 March 1981, p. 111.Google Scholar

42 Binder, Ideological Revolution, p. 241.Google Scholar

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44 LAR, Fundamentals, pp. 5–6; FBIS-MEA, 4 March 1981, p. 110 and 14 May 1979, p. 15.Google Scholar

45 Qathafi, Discourses, pp. 25–29, 47, and 87; Gadhafi, Broadlines, pp. 9–14, 23–26; Libyan Arab Republic. Ministry of Information and Culture, The Revolution of lst September. The Fourth Anniversary (Benghazi, 1973), p. 250.Google Scholar

46 FBIS-MEA, 15 May 1981, pp. Q4–Q5;Google ScholarSt John, Ronald Bruce, “Libya's Foreign and Domestic Policies,” Current History, 80, 470 (12 1981). pp. 426427.Google Scholar

47 LAR, Revolution. pp. 246–250 and 260; Progressive Libya, May–June 1975, pp. 2–3; FBIS MEA, 5 March 1980, p. 13.Google Scholar

48 St John, Ronald Bruce, “The Soviet Penetration of Libya,” The World Today, 38. 4 (04 1982), pp. 131138;Google ScholarFBIS-MEA, 12 June 1979. p. 13 and 30 April 1981, pp. Q1–Q3.Google Scholar

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52 The Libyan Arab Republic. Ministry of Information and Culture, Aspects of First of September Revolution (Tripoli. 1973). pp. 9–11;Google ScholarQathafi. Discourses. pp. 69–90;Google ScholarFBIS-MEA 5 March 1980, p. 17 and 9 June 1980, p. 12.Google Scholar

53 For more details on these merger attempts see Alexander, Nathan [Ronald Bruce St John, “The Foreign Policy of Libya: Inflexibility Amid Change.” Orhis, 24, 4 (Winter 1981), pp. 832838.Google Scholar Ba'th ideology envisioned a union of Arab countries whose progress was obstructed by their lack of capital and natural resources with their better-endowed neighbors. Torrey, Gordon H.. “The Ba'th-ldeology and Practice,” Middle East Journal, 23, 4 (Autumn 1969), p. 451.Google Scholar

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55 LAR, Revolution, p. 261; FBIS-MEA, 21 January 1981, p. 19 and 8 March 1982, pp. Q2–Q6; New York Times. May 27, 1982 and August 9, 1982.Google Scholar

56 Binder. Ideological Revolution, p. 182. Michel 'Aflaq believed the doctrines of socialism and nationalism were “fused into one entity.” Torrey. “The Ba'th-ldeoIogy and Practice,” p. 451.Google Scholar

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59 LAR. Fundamentals, pp. 8–10; Ansell and al-Arif. Libyan. p. 74;Google ScholarDekmejian, R. Hrair, Egypt Under Nasir: A Study in Political Dynamics (Albany, New York, 1971), pp. 132133.Google Scholar

60 LAR, Revolution, pp. 127–133 and 158–161; Progressive Libya, December 1972, pp. 2–4 and July–August 1975, pp. 4–6;Google ScholarAllan, J. A., Libya: The Experience of Oil (London, 1981), pp. 221231;Google ScholarFBIS-MEA. 14 November 1980. p. 11 and 15 April 1981, p. Q1.Google Scholar

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62 Bennett, Valerie Plave. “Libyan Socialism,” in Desfosses, Helen and Levesque, Jacques, eds., Socialism in the Third World (New York, 1975), p. 103;Google ScholarAllan, Libya, pp. 223–224;Google ScholarO'Brien, Patrick, The Revolution in Egypt's Economic System: From Private Enterprise to Socialism, 1952–1965 (London, 1966), p. 200.Google Scholar

63 An in-depth discussion of Libyan oil policy is beyond the scope of this paper, see Waddams, Frank G., The Libyan Oil Industry (London, 1980).Google Scholar

64 For a penetrating analysis of Qadhdhafi's economic policies see Allan, Libya, pp. 179–316. FBISMEA, 12 February 1979. pp. 12–13 and 17 April 1979, pp. 12–13;Google Scholar Omar I. el Fathaly, Palmer, Monte, and Chackerian, Richard, Political Development and Bureaucracy in Libya (Lexington, Mass., 1977), pp. 1921 and 36–38;Google ScholarWright, Libya, p. 263.Google Scholar

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66 FBIS-MEA, 18 October 1978, p. 15; 12 February 1979, pp. 12–13; 18 June 1980, p. 12 and 9 March 1981, p. Q1. Ba'th socialism also limited ownership of buildings to what could be personally used. Exploitation by means of renting was expressly prohibited. Torrey, “The Ba'th Ideology and Practice,” p. 251. For the effects of these measures on the Libyan economy see St John, “Libya's Foreign and Domestic Policies,” p. 429.Google Scholar

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72 St John, “Libya: The Continuous Revolution,” pp. 210–227.Google Scholar