Humanitarian action and intervention. Libya case study - Реферат

HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND INTERVENTION. LIBYA CASE STUDY THE CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTRY (LIBYA) 1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1.2 SOCIAL CONDITIONS 1.3 ECONOMY 1.4 POLITICS 2. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FRAGILE STATES 2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE MOST KNOWN FRAGILE STATES 2.2 COMMON FEATURES 2.3 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT 3. INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION HUMANITARIANISM If we look for the right definition of humanitarianism , we will find this one: Humanitarianism means showing concern for the welfare of humanity, especially in acting to improve the living conditions of impoverished people. Humanitarianism is a moral of good nature , benevolence, and sympathy extended to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common theme in its evolution. People say that when things are rong, this “feeling” is the one that comes up from humans, the need to help others, the cooperation between different people and no matter the different neither with the people who is going to be helped. Now, we would try to explain two different examples of humanitarianism in our history . 1. OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTRY (Libya) 1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Libya is a country located in the northeast coast of Africa between Tunisia and Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east; to the south are Sudan, Chad; and Niger. The major part of the country lies within the Sahara desert. Along the Mediterranean coast and farther inland is arable plateau land. The first ones living in Libya were the Berber tribes. In the 7th century B.C. Phoenicians colonized the eastern section of Libya and called it Cyrenaica, Greeks also wanted to colonize Libya, and they did it in the western part of the country. They called its colony Tripolitania. Tripolitania became part of the Holy Roman Empire and it belonged to the romans until it was sacked by the Vandals. In the 16th century both parts, Cyrenaica and Tripolitania became part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1801 the prize of the merchant taxes were raised by Tripolis pasha, this led to the Tripolitan war with the USA. The peace treaty was signed just four years after, in 1805, US ships no longer had to pay tribute to Tripoli. The unification of both Tripolitania and Cyrenaica came in 1934, with the outbreak of hostilities between Italy and Turkey in 1922. Italian army broke into Tripoli and Libyans started fighting against the Italians, but these controlled most of the land by 1934 libya was known as the colony of Libya. During the World War II, most of the desert fighting took place in Libya. After the fall of Tripoli 1943, it came under an Allied administration. In 1949, the UN voted that Libya should become an independent country, and in 1951 it became the United Kingdom of Libya. But it wasn’t until 1958 when the oil was discovered, this completely changed the country’s economy as it was suffering an ongoing impoverishment. On September first, 1969, Muammar al-Gaddafi deposed the king and revolutionized the country, making it a pro- Arabic, anti- western, Islamic rePublic with socialist leanings. It was also rapidly anti-Israeli. A notorious firebrand, Qaddafi aligned himself with dictators, such as Ugandas Idi Amin, and fostered anti-Western terrorism. 1.2 SOCIAL CONDITIONS By 2009, Libya was in the first place of HDI (Human Development Index) in the whole African continent, and the fourth highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita in Africa. Despite all theses great achievements, the civil war came which will be considered below and nowadays the country is facing problems such as: 1. Violence especially against children and women, as they are the most unprotected groups. Violence against women has become especially hard in some aspects such as education, in which some militia groups had imposed restrictions on women students? access to education and also in womens security. Many women had to face harassment while trying to travel out Libya without a male guardian. Also some armed groups imposed restrictions on women based on their ideological beliefs. 2. Political instability, which was remarkably high after the overthrow of the leader Moammar Gaddafi. Just in 2014, more than 60,000 migrants and asylum seekers reached the Italian coasts. Record numbers of people trying to travel out of Libya wanting to get in Europe. In addition, Libyan authorities held 5,000 - 10,000 migrants and asylum seekers in detention, where they had to face aggressions such as overcrowding, electric shocks, whippings, cigarette burns, etc. Around 10,000 migrants were rescued from unseaworthy boats. 3. Poverty and discrimination, especially since the civil war started, and in most cases towards minority groups, such as Christians and Jews. Basic goods and fuel are in an incredibly short supply. In some areas people no longer have access to communications or electricity and are forced to use firewood for cooking and surviving. All the resources and key