This narrative chronicles Libya's, and to a vast extent Muammar Gaddafi's, remarkable past, meteoric rise to prominence, and convoluted reign, and introduces potential scenarios that may play out in the near term.After four decades of tyrannical, erratic-and pioneering-changes fueled by oil wealth, Muammar Gaddafi's government fell in 2011, and Libya embarked on a new course without known charts. Libya: History and Revolution covers the nation from its origins as independent land masses and kingdoms to its present as a consolidated nation. The work does not focus on the "old" Libya, but aims to bridge yesterday's Libya with tomorrow's, looking at the nation as a regional economic power and military player in North Africa and the Middle East. The result is a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand introduction to the political, economic, and military history and events that led to Gaddafi's downfall, coupled with a consideration of Libya's past and present.Opening with historical underpinnings, the book focuses on the conflict and revolution in Libya during the Arab Spring that brought Gaddafi down, a change that opened a new future for the oil-rich nation. The book closes with a thoughtful discussion of what may be next for Libya and of possible perils for the nation, the region, and the world, as Libya matures as an independent, representatively governed country.

Foreword by General Carlton W. Fulford, Jr.PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Historical Overview2. Libya before Gaddafi: Arabs, Ottomans, and the Senusiya3. Rise to Power, Domestic Policy, and Practice4. The Arab Spring in Libya5. Libya and Oil: Curse or Blessing6. The Spark and Fire of the 2011 Libyan "Arab Spring"7. Bumpy and Twisted Roads to the New Libya: 2012-2013AppendixBibliographyIndex