Link to article- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/2/un-20000-foreign-fighters-in-libya-are-a-serious-crisis
There is a “serious crisis” in Libya right now as weapons continue to be imported into the warring country. A UN representative for Libya, Stephanie Williams, says that this is a “violation of Libyan sovereignty.” She announced this to Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which is working to bring the warring sides of Libya together. This forum is also a part of the UN’s efforts to achieve peace in Libya, after past conflicts. Stephanie Williams claims that it is in the interest of all foreign actors involved to depart so that a ceasefire may commence. Because Libya is a major oil producer, stabilizing it would have a positive impact on the supply and price of oil.
Due to the fact that Libya has been facing armed conflict for many years now, it will be hard for all the regions involved to withdraw from the dispute completely. For example, there are Islamic groups on one side of the conflict and a group backed by Russia on another and a group backed by the US and Europe on yet another. However, from a global perspective, I do agree that it will largely benefit all of those countries involved to leave Libya and allow them to rebuild. Libya’s plans for a new government involving presidential and parliamentary elections could help them create a more stable way of life. A new balance and trust between their people and the government could also allow them to build a stronger economy based around their high oil production.
This conflict could be explained through the realist perspective. All the different actors are involving themselves to exercise their power and expand their realm of influence. They also all share a common interest in the weakness of Libya’s government and the potential economic power they could gain from their large oil export. The actions of foreign countries are completely based on self-interest, which is the simple definition of the realist perspective. The effects of foreign involvement and the eruption of war are a clear example of the condition of anarchy defined in realism.