This book sketches the discourse about a new constitution in Libya since 2011. Applying a
discourse analytical approach the author identifies societal cleavages that have come to the
fore in Libya's transitional period. The debate has focused on democracy federalism
decentralisation and localisation the role of religion women in politics as well as ethnic
minorities. The strategies followed to ensure representation in the constitutional process have
included civil disobedience affirmative action and force. The effects of raising demands in
these ways have been changes in the constitutional process and institutional design of Libya's
interim political institutions rather than promises that particular demands as to the content
of the constitution would be met. The general prevention of a public discourse and competition
along societal cleavages under Gaddafi's totalitarian ideology has resulted in an all-out
resurgence of splits along ethnic regional and other lines.The work was awarded the Christoph
Schumann Memorial Prize of the University of Erlangen.
