The Green Book

Republished in a new translation, “The Green Book” provides fresh insight into the thinking of Muammar Al Qaddafi, and his Third Universal Theory for a new democratic society. Outlined first is his theory for direct democracy in society, or Jamahiriya, focusing on the authority of the people, renouncing representation or delegation of authority, and recognizing the need for organization of the people at lower levels of society. Part Two suggests an economic revolution, transforming societies of wage earners into companies of partners by applying a political and economic theory of social organization that gives the ownership, and regulation of production, distribution and exchange to the community as a whole. Part Three launches a social revolution, presenting solutions to man’s struggles in life, and the unsolved problems of man and woman, as well as tackling the situation of minorities by laying out sound principles of social life for all mankind.

The Green Book is a three-part collection of political thoughts, social and economic theories and day-to-day how-to guides by Libya’s Muammar el Qaddafi. The book sums up Qaddafi’s “Third Universal Theory,” designed to be an alternative to capitalism and “atheistic communism.” It also expounds on the role of women, men, “black people,” music and education in everyday life. In Qaddafi’s words, “THE GREEN BOOK presents the ultimate solution to the problem of the instrument of government, and indicates for the masses the path upon which they can advance from the age of dictatorship to that of genuine democracy.

Qaddafi’s Inspirations

Two models stand out as inspirations for Qaddafi’s Green Book. The first is Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser’s Philosophy of the Revolution (1954), where Nasser lays out his ideas about pan-Arab nationalism and his intention to be not only the Arab world’s leader, but Africa’s, too. Nasser was Qaddafi’s foremost influence as Qaddafi was growing up. The second model for the Green Book is Mao’s Little Red Book (1964-76).

The Green Book, required reading in Libya, is generally more entertaining than coherent, more quaint than philosophically rigorous, and often just plain silly: “Women,” Qaddafi writes, “are females and men are males. According to gynecologists, women menstruate every month or so, while men, being male, do not menstruate or suffer during the monthly period.”

On the other hand, it can sometimes read like rewrites of Rousseau: “All methods of education prevailing in the world should be destroyed through a universal cultural revolution that frees the human mind from curricula of fanaticism which dictate a process of deliberate distortion of man’s tastes, conceptual ability and mentality.”

Either way, scholars, political theorists and politicians have had to take the Green Book seriously, if only because it remains Qaddafi’s guiding principles.

The Green Book Broken Down…

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“A parliament is originally founded to represent the people, but this in itself is undemocratic as democracy means the authority of the people and not an authority acting on their behalf”

“A newspaper owned by any individual is his or her own, and expresses only his or her point of view. Any claim that a newspaper represents public opinion is groundless because it actually expresses the viewpoint of that private individual. Democratically, private individuals should not be permitted to own any public means of publication or information.”

Two mistakes I may have made;
1/ He is not saying a multi ethnic society will disintegrate but that a nation containing different economic and social systems will disintegrate.

“All states which are composed of several nationalities for whatever reason – religion, economics, military power or man-made ideology will be destroyed by national conflict until each nation obtains its independence, because the social factor will inevitably triumph over the political factor.”

2/ He is not saying the collapse of the family will lead to the collapse of a nation (though he might believe that) but that the relationship/behaviour of a family is (and must be recognized as) different to that of the political nation.

“A political structure is corrupted if it becomes subservient to the sectarian social structure of the family, tribe, or sect and adopts its characteristics.”

He put Libya’s Oil Money in US Banks, Got his currency printed in London – has he been taken for a ride?

Gaddafi’s Green Book can be read here: http://www.mathaba.net/gci/theory/gb1.htm

At the end of the video I discuss the likelihood of Gaddafi’s Foreign Minister being a spy, 2 days later it is confirmed here: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173009.html