Toppling Qaddafi: Libya and the Limits of Liberal Intervention

by Christopher S. Chivvis

Toppling Qaddafi is a carefully researched, highly readable look at the role of the United States and NATO in Libya's war of liberation and its lessons for future military interventions. Based on extensive interviews within the U.S. government, this book recounts the story of how the United States and its European allies went to war against Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, why they won the war, and what the implications for NATO, Europe, and Libya will be. This was a war that few saw coming, and many worried would go badly awry, but in the end the Qaddafi regime fell and a new era in Libya's history dawned. Whether this is the kind of intervention that can be repeated, however, remains an open question – as does Libya's future and that of its neighbors.

Genres: Nonfiction, Libya, History

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 16, 2013

Reviews

[prcardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Composition: 3/5
Evidence: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Balance: 4/5

The good: Toppling Qaddafi undertakes an interesting assessment (How effective was liberal intervention - Obama's "leading from behind" NATO strategy - in the 2011 Libya uprising?). The work is focused, detailed, and progresses at a reasonable and readable pace.

The bad: This was not a very ambitious work. It also lacked the big-picture appreciation or theoretical contextualizing that one would expect from a Cambridge University Press publication. This read like a long descriptive account of charts, spreadsheets, and tables (of which, by the way, there were very few). It was as if all this information had been collected and collated but someone important somewhere was unable to decipher it and asked that a report be drawn to explain what it all meant. Someone else, somewhere else then suggested that it could be expanded a little and turned into a book. It would have been better left, in my impression, as a white paper or working paper on RAND's website. Then it would not have born the expectation of a narrative, breadth, or larger questions.

[Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawing on his experience at the US Department of Defense during the conflict, Chivvis offers a detailed and insightful account of the military campaign. He sheds light on the behind-the-scenes decision-making processes, the challenges faced by the international coalition, and the factors that ultimately led to Qaddafi's downfall. This insider's perspective offers a unique understanding of the complexities involved in such a large-scale intervention.

Chivvis delves into the justifications for the intervention, particularly the concept of "liberal intervention" aimed at promoting democracy and preventing humanitarian atrocities. He explores the debates within the US and European governments, the role of the Arab Spring in shaping international opinion, and the complex realities unfolding on the ground in Libya. This multifaceted analysis allows readers to understand the intervention within its broader political and social context.

The book's title, "Toppling Qaddafi," captures the intervention's limited objective. Chivvis argues that while removing Qaddafi was necessary to prevent a massacre, the intervention lacked a clear roadmap for Libya's future. He explores the challenges of post-conflict state-building, the rise of militia groups vying for power, and the ongoing struggles for stability in Libya. This focus on the intervention's limitations highlights the importance of considering long-term consequences alongside immediate goals.

A crucial aspect of the book is its focus on the lessons learned from the Libyan intervention. Chivvis argues that the success of the intervention, measured by Qaddafi's removal, shouldn't overshadow the complexities of nation-building and the importance of long-term planning. He offers valuable insights for future interventions, emphasizing the need for clear objectives, strong international cooperation, and a realistic understanding of post-conflict challenges. This focus on the future allows the book to contribute to broader discussions on foreign policy and the use of military force.

While the book offers a wealth of information, there are areas for further exploration. A more extensive inclusion of Libyan voices, both during and after the intervention, could provide a richer understanding of the conflict's impact on the Libyan people. Additionally, a more detailed analysis of the diplomatic and humanitarian efforts alongside the military aspects could offer a more comprehensive picture of the intervention's overall strategy.

Overall, "Toppling Qaddafi" is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the 2011 Libyan intervention and its long-term implications. Chivvis's analysis offers a critical perspective on the complexities of foreign intervention, the challenges of promoting democracy, and the importance of considering the long-term consequences of such actions.