Vandewalle argues that Libya represents an extreme example of what he calls a "distributive state," an oil-exporting country where an attempt at state-building coincided with large inflows of capital while political and economic institutions were in their infancy. Libya's rulers eventually pursued policies that were politically expedient but proved economically ruinous, and disenfranchised local citizens. Distributive states, according to Vandewalle, may appear capable of resisting economic and political challenges, but they are ill prepared to implement policies that make the state and its institutions relevant to their citizens. Similar developments can be expected whenever local rulers do not have to extract resources from their citizens to fund the building of a modern state.
Vandewalle argues that Libya represents an extreme example of what he calls a "distributive state," an oil-exporting country where an attempt at state-building coincided with large inflows of capital while political and economic institutions were in their infancy. Libya's rulers eventually pursued policies that were politically expedient but proved economically ruinous, and disenfranchised local citizens. Distributive states, according to Vandewalle, may appear capable of resisting economic and political challenges, but they are ill prepared to implement policies that make the state and its institutions relevant to their citizens. Similar developments can be expected whenever local rulers do not have to extract resources from their citizens to fund the building of a modern state.
![Libya since Independence: Oil and State-building](http://img.images-bn.com/static/redesign/srcs/images/grey-box.png?v11.10.4)
Libya since Independence: Oil and State-building
256![Libya since Independence: Oil and State-building](http://img.images-bn.com/static/redesign/srcs/images/grey-box.png?v11.10.4)
Libya since Independence: Oil and State-building
256Hardcover
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780801434723 |
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Publisher: | Cornell University Press |
Publication date: | 07/21/1998 |
Series: | 9/28/2005 |
Pages: | 256 |
Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d) |
Lexile: | 1550L (what's this?) |
Age Range: | 18 Years |