NATO’s 2011 intervention in Libya: Beyond humanitarian intervention

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute to the debate that NATO’s 2011 intervention in Libya, actively supported by the United Nations Security Council was designed to oust Gaddafi from power. Using political realism as analysis framework, we underscored this position by stating that the pursuit of regime change in Libya by western powers had represented the predominant thrust of American and European policy since 1969 after Colonel Gaddafi seized power by staging a coup d’etat against King Idris. Again, in the course of the revolution in Libya, the West severally directed Gaddafi to resign; not to mention the assistance NATO rendered to rebels; its rejection of armistice deal brokered by Gaddafi’s son and the manner NATO bombarded its targets. The current study stresses that Gaddafi chose to die as President because he knew NATO’s coalition was bent on ousting him from power.

Keywords: Intervention, humanitarianism, realism, regime-change.