Ali Ahmida interviewed by Reuters for analysis of role of tribalism in Libya's new politics

Ali Abdullatif Ahmida, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, was interviewed by the Reuters news service for a Sept. 23, 2011 analysis of the dynamics of tribalism in post-Gaddafi Libya.

The story reports that some Libyans believe that local loyalties may be more important than extended tribal networks. Ahmida told Reuters that “Libyan society is very detribalised in an economic sense. ... The old regime destroyed the old civil associations, and also manipulated the question of tribal identify and tried to revive it for its own expedient purposes."

"So we should not be fooled by the use of tribalism by the regime. Because while recruitment for his security apparatus came from regional tribes, Libyan society in the past 40 years has completely changed. It is heavily urbanized and more literate.

"Therefore tribalism (exists) really just on the surface. It's now more about regional identities and dealing with the frustrations and consequences of what happened under the old regime," Ahmida said.

Since the North African and Middle Eastern uprisings began in January, Ahmida has been interviewed by a number of media outlets, including spots on NPR's Morning Edition and Weekend Edition earlier this year, as well as the Charlie Rose show, CBC Radio Canada, KPFK Pacifica Radio, Los Angeles, WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Mother Jones magazine and more. He also wrote an invited column for the New York Times. Ahmida, who was born in Libya, is the author of The Making of Modern Libya: State Formation, Colonialization and Resistance, and several other books on Libya and North Africa.  Find out more about Ahmida and read and listen to a number of his other recent interviews.
 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.