Tribal Conflict: Diagnostics for a Weak State

Overview
 The following article pertains to the ongoing tribal warfare and strife that has occurred proceeding the fall of the Gaddafi Regime. Two tribes, the Guntrara and Mashashya, were 
involved in numerous armed conflicts that claimed 105 lives. Amid the new political order in Libya, the transitional government has not been able to effectively consolidate the use of force within their borders and because of this violence has erupted. The conflict between the two tribes stems mainly from a dispute over land that was redistributed under Gaddafi from one tribe to the other.

Relevance
 This issue of tribal/ ethnic conflict is extremely important for two main reasons. First, it shows the underlying tensions that exist within Libya as a result of their tribal heterogeneity. These tensions are longstanding in some cases and reactionary in others; this particular conflict is a result of the Ghaddafi's actions while still in power. As a member of a minority tribe, Ghaddafi's favor towards his own tribe as well as partiality towards others has bred conflict amidst the new political order. Ethnic and religious factionalism has been observed as a major cause of civil war in other Islamic countries and is often a result of inequitable rule of the leader. The Iraqi Civil War serves as a great example of factionalism as a product of inequitable rule. Proceeding the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, violence became rampant between Shiia and Sunnis as a result of inequitable treatment during 
Hussein’s rule and concerns over representation in the new government. 
 Secondly, the issue is important because it tests the ability of the new transitional government to enforce order within its borders. If strong states are characterized by achieving a monopoly on violence within the state, then the prospect of ethnic war within the country is extremely concerning. 


Relating Issues 

 This
issue correlates heavily to themes in class. Since this tribal
conflict seems to have spread from policies under Gaddafi, it points
to instrumentalism as the source of the conflict. Additionally,
themes of weak vs. strong states are also exemplified. Civil war is
identified as the greatest indicator of a failed state and this story
represents many of the characteristics found in failed or failing
states. Ethnically, Libya is very diverse, containing a multitude of
different tribes, some of whom have engaged in armed conflict with
one another. The source of the conflict in particular seems to have
been the result of Gaddafi's policies. This “political reprisal”
for policies under the previous regime is identified as a key
characteristic/ cause of failing states.

Recommendations

 As
suggested in class, I think the best course of action for the Libyan
government would be to focus on strengthening their state
institutions, specifically their military. Any effective government,
whether democratic or not, must have a monopoly of violence within
its borders. The new government will be able to achieve little until
that is the case.  





The
following map shows the major ethnicities within Libya. The tribes
are a subset of these varied ethnic groups.






http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fragilestates.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Libya-tribes-stratfor.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fragilestates.org/2012/03/01/understanding-libya-the-role-of-ethnic-and-tribal-groups-in-any-political-settlement/&h=800&w=800&sz=180&tbnid=95_hKGGMcYYHvM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&zoom=1&usg=__9PVIYOKkYiG2tivVrzhNjCIx40U=&docid=bKTGbijzZ8bk_M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zslkUcSpJdCDyAGZwIHYBg&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAA&dur=704






Original
Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18529139