Politics

Electoral Democracy as of 2012

Libya is governed my a parliament known as the Council of Deputies, however, their control of the country is limited due to people who still support the former General National Congress.
The General National Congress (GNC) took effect earlier in 2012 and succeeded the National Transitional Council, which was formed in 2011.

• The National Transitonal Council was formed during and after the 2011 civil war and was used to act as the political face of the revolution. Early in 2012, protesters of the NTC demanded Sharia Law for the country's constitution
• August of 2012, the NTC officially transferred power to the GNC. This was the first peaceful transition of power in Libyan modern history. 
• The General National Congress was also a temporary fix to political instability. They were given an 18 month deadline to transition to a permanent democratic constitution. 
• The GNC refused to relinquish power at the end of their 18 month period which led to a small ongoing civil conflict. 
• In 2014, elections were held to elect a Council of Deputies and the new officials took power on August 4. 

Pop Culture in Libya

Ibn Thabit

• Libyan Rapper who was a rallying call for the revolutionaries
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ybgBlGBLk 

Libyan TV

• http://en.libyamediawiki.com/index.php?title=Private_TV

Religion in LIbya

Religion

• The population is 97% Sunni Muslim
•  Most Christians in the country are immigrants and migrant workers, mainly from other north African countries and parts of Europe/America
•  (RNS) Church leaders in Libya remain hopeful that Christians in the mostly Muslim country will be allowed to practice their faith, even as the country appears to be moving towards Shariah law. In December, Libya’s General National Congress voted to make Shariah the source of all legislation and institutions. The vote came amid international concerns over the diminishing Christian populations in North Africa and the Middle East, and increased Islamist influence in countries engulfed by the Arab Spring revolution.
• There is one Orthodox church known to the State Dept. ,  run by the Ukrainian embassy.
•  There are no known places of worship for non-Judaic religions such as Hinduism, or Buddhism, although adherents are allowed to practice in their home.
  
•  The TNC (gov't) posted a statement declaring Islam to be the state religion and that Islamic law is the basis for the country's legislation, but non-muslims are "accorded the freedom to practice their beliefs"
•  Religious instruction in Islam is required in all public schools, but there is no law concerning non-Muslims in schools.
•  David Gerbi
• David Gerbi is a Jewish psychiatrist who attempted to restore Tripoli's main synagogue during the revolution against Gaddafi, after returning from exile in Italy. He was barred from entering the synagogue, and a massive protest was held against the return of exiled Jews
• Libya has an Anti-Semitic history, With Anti-Jewish pogroms/massacres/riots in 1945 and 48

Sources

• http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/193109.pdf
• http://www.religionnews.com/2014/01/10/christians-libya-cast-anxious-eye-religious-freedom/ 
• http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/04/libyan-jew-blocked-tripoli-synagogue

Technology

Communications

• 814,000 Telephone lines in use
• 9.59 Million cell phones
• telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade
• multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly
• state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio   
• Internet country code is .ly
• 353,900 internet users 

Social Structure

Social Climate

•  Cities are far apart
• Large social gap resulted between cities as a symptom of distance.
• Cities are peopled largely by foreigners
• Desert is ruled by tribal chieftains

Government

• currently  operating under a transitional government
• capitol Tripoli
• Split into 22 districts
• Gained independence 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
• 3 Constitutions over last ~60 years
• previous 1951, 1977; latest 2011 (interim); note - in mid-July 2013, Libya's legislative body agreed on steps for drafting a new constitution

Leaders

• National Congress President: Nuri Abu Sahmayn 
• Prime Minister: Ali Zaydan 
• contested as last election was declared unconstitutional

Elections

• Universal suffrage for anyone 18+
• unicameral General National Congress (200 seats; 120 individual seats elected from 69 constituencies and 80 party list seats elected from 20 constituencies; member term NA)
• prime minister and General National Congress president elected by the National Congress  

Location/Geography/Environment/Climate

 Location

• In North Africa
• between Algeria, Tunisia, & Egypt
• on the Mediterranean
•  Coordinates 25 00 N, 17 00 E

Geography

• 1,759,540 sq km of land
• only 1,770km of coastline
• Mostly Sahara desert
• 4th largest country in Africa
• Large oil deposits
• Crossroads of North Africa and the Arab world
• 0.99% of land is arable, 0.19% is permanent crops
• few geographical features, mostly flat undulating plains and plateaus

Resources

• Petroleum
• 1.483 million bbl/day
• Natural Gas
• 7.855 billion cu m
• Gypsum
•