Abstract:
This thesis describes the initial two weeks of the 2011 Libyan uprising. Through a
detailed case study of this period, a narrative timeline is produced that includes
significant events and descriptions of the actions taken by established and emerging
political actors. Pulling from these descriptions, I consider whether this initial period of
the Libyan uprising meets the criteria for an episode of contentious politics. Once
establishing this, the thesis explores the scale shifting process commonly found in
contentious politics and its applicability to the Libyan case. By identifying evidence of
both brokerage and diffusion mechanisms as well as the emulation of a violent protest
repertoire, I present the findings of the thesis. I concluded with recommendations on
possible future research on Libya as an episode of political contention that could both
deepen the understanding of the 2011 Libyan uprising and broaden the understanding of
contentious politics in non-Western, non-democratic societies.
