Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011
The political turmoil in Libya—which has claimed more than 20,000 lives and frustrated international partners since 2011—is an immensely complex struggle for power with a dizzying array of participants. How did Libya’s “Arab Spring” devolve into civil war after the removal of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi?

Ruining Revolution examines Libya’s descent into chaos, pinpointing the roles of Islamist and Salafi forces. Focusing on two key but underestimated movements, the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood and Libyan Salafi Madkhalis, Inga K. Trauthig argues that ideological groups have been of greater importance than previously assumed. She maps out crucial junctions in Libya’s recent history, tying in these movements’ pasts, to show how Islamist and Salafi forces have stoked instability. Although the 2011 Libyan revolution was not religious, these groups proved surprisingly well-equipped to capitalize on social and political fissures and to attract international support.

Featuring deep research and rigorous analysis, this book draws on a range of sources, including in-depth interviews and propaganda shared on social media. Ruining Revolution illuminates the dynamics that have shaped contemporary Libya—with significant policy implications for regional engagement—and offers broader insight into the underlying workings of a range of radical groups.
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Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011
The political turmoil in Libya—which has claimed more than 20,000 lives and frustrated international partners since 2011—is an immensely complex struggle for power with a dizzying array of participants. How did Libya’s “Arab Spring” devolve into civil war after the removal of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi?

Ruining Revolution examines Libya’s descent into chaos, pinpointing the roles of Islamist and Salafi forces. Focusing on two key but underestimated movements, the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood and Libyan Salafi Madkhalis, Inga K. Trauthig argues that ideological groups have been of greater importance than previously assumed. She maps out crucial junctions in Libya’s recent history, tying in these movements’ pasts, to show how Islamist and Salafi forces have stoked instability. Although the 2011 Libyan revolution was not religious, these groups proved surprisingly well-equipped to capitalize on social and political fissures and to attract international support.

Featuring deep research and rigorous analysis, this book draws on a range of sources, including in-depth interviews and propaganda shared on social media. Ruining Revolution illuminates the dynamics that have shaped contemporary Libya—with significant policy implications for regional engagement—and offers broader insight into the underlying workings of a range of radical groups.
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Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011

Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011

by Inga K. Trauthig
Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011

Ruining Revolution: How International Islamist and Salafi Forces Have Held Libya Hostage Since 2011

by Inga K. Trauthig

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Overview

The political turmoil in Libya—which has claimed more than 20,000 lives and frustrated international partners since 2011—is an immensely complex struggle for power with a dizzying array of participants. How did Libya’s “Arab Spring” devolve into civil war after the removal of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi?

Ruining Revolution examines Libya’s descent into chaos, pinpointing the roles of Islamist and Salafi forces. Focusing on two key but underestimated movements, the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood and Libyan Salafi Madkhalis, Inga K. Trauthig argues that ideological groups have been of greater importance than previously assumed. She maps out crucial junctions in Libya’s recent history, tying in these movements’ pasts, to show how Islamist and Salafi forces have stoked instability. Although the 2011 Libyan revolution was not religious, these groups proved surprisingly well-equipped to capitalize on social and political fissures and to attract international support.

Featuring deep research and rigorous analysis, this book draws on a range of sources, including in-depth interviews and propaganda shared on social media. Ruining Revolution illuminates the dynamics that have shaped contemporary Libya—with significant policy implications for regional engagement—and offers broader insight into the underlying workings of a range of radical groups.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780231219945
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Publication date: 11/11/2025
Series: Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare
Pages: 296
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Inga K. Trauthig is a research professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University. She is also a senior visiting scholar with the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at King’s College London.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
Introduction
1. Who Are Libya’s Islamists and Salafists?
2. Surprised by Libya’s Revolution
3. Securing Interests While Hurting Libya
4. A Downhill Slope
5. What Next?
Appendix
Glossary of Arabic Words
Notes
Bibliography
Index
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