Colonel Gaddafi is confronting the most serious challenge to his 42-year rule as leader of Libya by unleashing his army on unarmed protesters. Unlike the rulers of neighbouring Egypt, Gaddafi has refused to countenance the politics of disobedience, despite growing international condemnation, and the death toll of demonstrators nearing 100.
With internet services in Libya shut off for long periods, foreign journalists excluded and access already blocked to social networking sites, Gaddafi appeared determined to quell a revolt centred in the country's east, which has long suffered a policy of deliberate economic exclusion.
Foreign Secretary William Hague stated: "Governments must respond to legitimate aspirations of their people, rather than resort to the use of force, and must respect the right to peaceful protest.
"I condemn the violence in Libya, including reports of the use of heavy weapons fire and a unit of snipers against demonstrators. This is clearly unacceptable and horrifying.
"Media access has been severely restricted. The absence of TV cameras does not mean the attention of the world should not be focused on the actions of the Libyan government." (Guardian: 2011).
Using MR Thompson's theory on the fall of authoritarian regimes, we can distinctly see the rise of the strong state and weak party legitimacy, the people who once supported Gaddafi have now turned their backs on the leader. 42 Years have seen societal modernisation within Libya, leading to the population to revolt against the current regime. Political opposition on the left, right and centre have been able to forge together whilst the leadership is failing. Time will tell what happens in Libya, the concatenation effect started in Tunisia, spread to Egypt, now it's starting to spread to Bahrain, Libya and Iran in order to remove authoritarian regimes.
Note:
MR Thompson highlights 4 theories:
Political Legitimacy
Societal Modernisation
Leadership
Opposition Strategy
To Shoot or Not to Shoot: Post totalitarianism in China and Eastern Europe
Mark R. Thompson
Comparative Politics
Vol. 34, No. 1 (Oct., 2001), pp. 63-83
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