Why is Libya Divided: Historical Faultlines in Libyan Society

Minister of Culture Habib Mohammed Al-Amin explains the main division in Libyan society.

Al-Amin explains: “I think the culture in Libya is not a dividing factor, as it unites Libyan not the other way around. So we cant say that the previous administrative 3 regions system will affect the political future of the country. We celebrated few days back the date on which the late king Idress Al-Senussi cancelled the federation, knowing that He was the one who declared it and He is the one who cancelled it. So, whoever is following the news of Libya now will think that the federation is a political based system, when the fact is that the federation in Libya was a temporary administrative system, which was cancelled by the same king and men who placed it in the first place. It was even cancelled in a calm way without having any kind of debate about it. But now, we find certain groups who use as a part of the game of politics, so the reality is that Libya is bound and tied by many things that exceed the small things certain politicians use in attempt to divide the country.”

“The culture in Libya got merged and mixed, and even the people from different background mixed together due their change of locations cause what we call “cultural capitals” to be known in our country. So these “cultural capitals” hold many groups from different regions. For example, who in Libya doesn’t know that the city of Benghazi is the Libyan cultural capital of arts, theatre and press? This is a known fact. Yet on the other hand, I tried to explore and find the answer for how did Benghazi became the Libyan cultural capital? Because this city attracted all the intellectuals, artists, actors and poets of Libya, for that reason you will find many who lives in Benghazi yet their roots belong to other places, while keeping in mind that what brought a writer for example to that city isn’t trading or politics, he went there to reach the capital of writing to became a journalist, another might know that the radio and television in Libya started in Benghazi, so his love for press encouraged him to come go to Benghazi, the same goes for the person who likes theatre.”

“So, until today we think that the culture binds us and wont act as a dividing factor, and it also overcomes any signs of weakness we might witness in the scene of politics. That is why we hope and think that the culture will be the influencing factor over the public opinion, so they don’t stay on the tracks drawn to them by others in order to serve the goals and whims of others. We can also say that some of these people don’t know what they are doing. Also I want to say that now, after the revolution the Libyan intellectuals will have stronger initiatives during this critical phase, in order to restore stability first and foremost after the hardships we faced during the revolution since all the initiates during that time were focused toward the military efforts, but now we see that the culture brings Libyans together and doesn’t divide them.”