The Role of Non-State Actors in State-Building in the Middle East and North Africa Region: The Case of Armed Groups in Post Qaddhafi Libya

Absztrakt (kivonat)

The role of non-state actors in state-building, particularly in conflict-stricken regions, is becoming increasingly important in the field of international relations. The emergence of armed groups in countries such as Libya present an opportunity for these actors to be involved in political engagement and cooperation with other political actors at the domestic level to start the process of re-building after civil war. However, conflict between state and armed groups, inter-militia rivalries and together with the proliferation of weapons, deny the existence of politically legitimate institutions that could govern the country. The study aimed to identify the role that key armed groups have played, and the level of potential that they have to provide stability for state-building in post Qaddhafi Libya. A typological analysis approach based on legitimacy, resources and support was used to establish each groups potential. The research found that the groups that were considered to be the revolutionary brigades who presented with high domestic support, had protective or cooperative relations with civilians and whose resource base was a mix of community-based and capital exchange systems, had a high stability potential level. Groups with high international support and low domestic support had a low state-building potential. Overcoming the post-conflict challenge of Libya’s armed groups who are intertwined in state institutions and challenge them as well engaging them will require compromise, cooperation, incentive and political will amongst all relevant actors in order to reach political settlements and begin the process of inclusive state-building.