Abstract: | Despite some good recent writings there is still not much known about the inner dynamics of Qadhd-hafi's radical revolution, about the effect of its social policies, or about the opposition. Questions about the nature and direction of the Jamahiriya (Libya's political identity) abound. In the Jamahiriya's view, the monarchy was the last of a series of failed efforts to forge a political community in Libya. This article takes a look at the legacies that the Jamahiriya has inherited, especially those of the recent colonial past, which are still a strong factor shaping Libya's present outlook. Sections: introductory - Ecology and geopolitics - Pre-colonial traditions and modem awakening - The colonial legacy: republican Pan-Islamism versus state-building - Independence and authenticity: whither Libya? - Conclusion. Fig., notes. |