Libyan national security between the historical dimension and the geopolitical dimension

Abstract

National security is one of the vital concepts in the construction and stability of states, due to its role in protecting national sovereignty, ensuring territorial integrity, and preserving political decision-making in the face of internal and external challenges. However, this concept does not develop in isolation from its surrounding contexts; rather, it is influenced by historical, political, and geographical factors. The Libyan case represents a clear sample of the intersection between historical and geopolitical dimensions in shaping the reality of national security and its complex challenges. Throughout its modern history, Libya has gone through pivotal stages — from Italian colonization to independence, followed by the republican regime under Gaddafi, and finally the post-2011 phase, which has been marked by the collapse of state institutions and the spread of security chaos. During these stages, a clear strategic vision for national security failed to develop. Instead, the concept remained tied to the will of the ruling regime or fragmented among multiple actors following the fall of the central state. Geopolitically, Libya’s strategic location — with open borders to Europe in the north and unstable countries to the south — has made it vulnerable to regional and international conflicts and various external interventions, especially in the absence of a unified central authority. These combined factors have weakened the state's ability to protect its national interests and control sovereign security decision-making.