The role of the tribe in the Libyan political system during the period (1969–2011)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of tribes in the Libyan political system during the period (1969–2011), by examining the relationship between tribal structures and political authority, and assessing their impact on political stability and state-building processes. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on relevant literature and analyzing the nature of the Libyan political system under Muammar Gaddafi, as well as the mechanisms through which tribes were utilized within governance strategies.

The findings reveal that the Libyan political system was largely non-institutional, relying heavily on tribal loyalties and personal networks rather than formal state institutions. The study also demonstrates that tribes played a dual role: on the one hand, they contributed to the stability of the regime by reinforcing political loyalty; on the other hand, they weakened state institutions, undermined the rule of law, and reinforced social divisions.

Furthermore, the reliance on tribes as informal political actors led to the emergence of a hybrid political system that combined traditional structures with weak formal institutions, making the Libyan state structurally fragile despite its long-term continuity.

The study concludes that building a modern state in Libya requires redefining the relationship between tribes and the political system, strengthening formal institutions, and promoting citizenship as a unifying framework for political and social relations.