By Abdul Rahman Al Ageli.
Tripoli, 19 December:
In the previous two sections, we discussed the structural distortions that exist within Libya and . . .[restrict]their historic context, and how they distorted employment, now we will discuss these issues within the context of the February 17th revolution.
Youth unemployment was one of the main pains that fuelled the February 17 revolution, and it may fuel another one if something isn’t done. If the old structural rules of Libya don’t change, the youth will be the biggest losers. Many of them already know it. Ask how many youth would immigrate abroad if they get the chance. The youth preferred death, to Life in old Libya.
Generations of these distortions created a people that were adept to survival, but also extremely polite and passive. Entrepreneurial, extremely resourceful and honorable, but unfortunately damaged by years of confusing, inconsistent rote based education.In the end the revolution showed us that the youth preferred an honorable death, to Life in old Libya.
Testament to that is the blood of many men and women of all ages, but particularly youth under 25. The ones that were not killed, wished they were, so they too could enjoy dying for an honorable cause.
Many who fought and died for Gaddafi were also young unemployed Libyan youth, more victims of these distortions, opting for dependence, rather than the freedom and independence values of the Libyan revolution, ultimately leading them to make similar sacrifices to maintain and increase, rather than dismantle, the patronage system, for many it was their only perceived means of survival…. all they could do to live, no other choice.
Although choosing the opposing side, Many of these youth shared the despair of all Libyan youth, seeing no option in a future relegated to fighting for survival in the informal economy, working a taxi cab, hustling scores, in business, currency, trade, drugs, crime, whatever it takes to survive in the predatory informal economy, with no growth to expect, nor knowledge to collect, and no Law to protect.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
While it is true that these distortions made a large negative impact on the attitudes and competence of the Libyan workforce especially youth, what is not true is that this condition is an ingrained, cultural and unchangeable reality. If the revolution was a testament of anything it is to the exact contrary of this idea.
The youth were the fuel of the revolution.
They shattered all stereo-types of Libyan work ethics, for all local and global eyes to see. They definitely shattered my previously held convictions about Libyans and their working attitudes.
They emerged as completely different persons than the lazy, incompetent, unmotivated, undisciplined, uncommitted YET entitlement driven, famous archetype of the Libyan ‘employee’.
What I saw in the revolution is difficult for me to find adequate expression in language, for fear I will not do it justice.
The unusually awesome will power, the instinct for freedom and independence that resulted in the closed minded focus of achieving a goal, destroying obstacles and moving forward regardless of the risks, to the extent that it was almost knowingly suicidal.
In fact what I saw, and I am sure many others especially those of you who have been witness to this also saw, was that all it took to change the patterns of behavior, was a shift of the collective Libyan mindset, from the one established by the distortions, to a different one governed by the mutual incentives and risks, common interest and unified objective of achieving freedom for the Libyan people.
The Youth were the fuel that never extinguished even when required to sometimes, they were field commanders, soldiers, fighters, mobilizers, communicators, coordinators, social networkers, medics, charity workers, journalists, media producers and many many other hidden gems of high potential.
These brave, courageous, youth. These smart, motivated, dedicated, committed, disciplined young people who made miracles of modern tactics, innovation and engineering and displayed moving examples of teamwork, solidarity, participation , during the revolution and learning under fire and no fear of imminent death.
Are these not the type of people your companies and the government would be honored to employ??
Are these not the type of people who could be successful entrepreneurs… they have what it takes to be executives, administrators, controllers, operators, in so many fields, public or private.
Their power of learning and acute awareness and survival instinct was mind blowing.
They were competent, motivated to self-learning, not afraid of making mistakes, taking responsibility, even if it meant they paid for it with their lives… the ultimate price for taking freedom, and taking responsibility…
All in the hope that their new found spirit, faith, unity, work ethic, this common trust and shared purpose produces a the same reality in a New Libya, a reality that can unlock their potential like it did in the revolution, but where they don’t receive bullets, but their basic rights.
Where they not only participate in the economic cycle, but in the political one as well.
Where they rise to live like they rose to die, and take meaningful control and decision over their lives and destiny of their country, as they did in the revolution.
The system created this generation, but Gaddafi failed to utilize this priceless resource, and now we may make the same mistake.
By explaining the negative realities, I do not wish to make anyone depressed; I only wish to be honest to myself, my friends, relatives and the youth. I want people to understand the reality of unemployed / under employed youth in Libya, and then understand that despite all this stress, they still have the strongest will power and resourcefulness I’ve ever seen, and are still surviving, they regularly overcome all the hurdles and obstacles’ Libya throws at them, and turn the negative to positive somehow.
They still have the desire for self-development, they still have the desire to learn, and be financially, socially independent, and to live with dignity. They have so many qualities that in most cases is hidden right until the moment where their back is against the wall and then it is unleashed. I understand that necessity always breeds innovation, what we need to do is think of a way where they don’t need life or death necessity in order do great things, we must find those triggers, that motivation
I believe the solution is to remove the distortion by creating new public institutions, and a new social contract between government and people that ensures that the peoples productivity is increased and capitalized on, and making the government directly accountable to them, and allowing the people to create their own private sector with just enough regulation to protect rather than restrict.
I hope you have come to the conclusion as I have that we must destroy the environment that sustains unemployment and unproductivity; we must build new solid public institutions and capitalize on the revolutionary spirit. Temporary fix its, high rise buildings and sky scrapers, more government handouts are the last thing we need.
Abdul Rahman Al Ageli, is co-founder and vice president of the Libyan Youth Forum, a coalition founded during the revolution that seeks to provide a platform for the voice of the Libyan Youth, and to support the youth in empowering themselves.
A version of this article was first presented at the Libya Summit conference in Tripoli 20-22 November 2012.
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