Since a bloodless coup in 1969, Libya has become synonymous with Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, the charismatic leader Nelson Mandela dubbed one of the revolutionary icons of our time. However, falling prey to empire-builders from the ancient Greeks to Mussolini's Italy, Libya was embroiled in controversy long before his meteoric rise to power. Skillfully navigating the nation's history, Ronald Bruce St John explores Libya's struggle to establish its political and economic identity. From the infamous Lockerbie bombing to Qaddafi's astonishing return to the international stage, this is a thoughtful and engrossing introduction to this turbulent land on the cusp of Africa and the Middle East.

Author Biography

Ronald Bruce St John is an affiliate professor of Middle East Studies at the Institute of International Studies, Bradley University. An analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, he has published several books on the Middle East and Africa, including Qaddafi's World Design: Libyan Foreign Policy, 1969-87.