Understanding the democratisation process in the Middle East and North Africa after the ‘Arab Spring’: The case of Libya

Abstract

In this research study, the researcher explores the democratisation process in the Middle East and North African region (MENA), with Libya as the case study. The study is based on the views of students and lecturers from universities in the three major regions of post-revolution Libya – Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabha – and examines how the relationship between democracy and revolution is perceived. The causes of the Arab Spring revolution, as well as its economic, social and political implications are presented in the study, based on reviewed literature, and the perspectives drawn from the study sample. Finally, the researcher presents the challenges and barriers to the process of democratisation after the Arab Spring.