Жасыл кітап: Қадаффи саяси философиясы

1975 political philosophy book by Muammar Gaddafi
the political book by Muammar Gaddafi

The Green Book (الكتاب الأخضر DIN) is a short book setting out the political philosophy of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The book was first published in 1975. It is said to have been inspired in part by The Little Red Book (Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse tung). Both were widely distributed both inside and outside their country of origin, and "written in a simple, understandable style with many memorable slogans". An English translation was issued by the People’s Establishment for Publication, Distribution, and Advertising, an organ of the Libyan People's Committee, and a bilingual English/Arabic edition was issued in London by Martin, Brian & O'Keeffe in 1976. During the Libyan Civil War, copies of the book were burned by anti Gaddafi demonstrators.

According to British author and former Greater London Council member George Tremlett, Libyan children spent two hours a week studying the book as part of their curriculum. Extracts were broadcast every day on television and radio.

The following table gives a chapter by chapter summary of the book. Part Chapter Title SummaryI1The Instrument of GovernmentThe most important political question is "what form of government should be established?" Such a government should be a direct democracy, but what usually occurs is that representative democracies are established, which usurp the will of large populations who did not vote for existing governments, using first past the post electoral systems.2ParliamentsThe basic feature of a representative democracy is its parliament, or assembly. Once elected, members usurp the authority of their constituents for their term of service. 3The PartyPolitical parties themselves also usurp the people's authority, and focus on maintaining power instead of improving society for all, the proper object of government. Worse, political parties are susceptible to corruption.4ClassSociety is furthermore split into classes: political, social, or tribal groups. A class which acquires political power, also inherits the society in which that power is gained. A former working class eventually becomes the new ruling class. The problem of a plurality or minority ruling the entire society persists.5PlebiscitesPlebiscites or referendums are not an appropriate solution to the political problem. One's political opinion does not reduce to a yes or no vote.6Popular Conferences and People's CommitteesThe solution to the problem of democracy is to establish a series of Popular Conferences (or, Congresses) and People's Committees, which collectively consist of the entire society, and all of its sectors. Working together, these groups supplant government administration, with the participation of all. These groups are also not parliaments in which authority is delegated.7The Law of SocietyThe basis of law is in custom and religion, the authentic source of social regulation, and not in written constitutions. The very fact that constitutions are regularly amended is a proof of their weakness and transience as an instrument of government.8Who Supervises the Conduct of Society?Just as political power should not be delegated to representatives, policing power also should not be delegated away from the entire society. Again, the structure of Conferences and Committees is the solution. The Whole is the legislature for the Whole, and the Whole is the law enforcement for the Whole.9How can Society Redirect its Course when Deviations from its Laws occur?In the case where a minority runs a government, another minority with initiative may seize power through revolution, with the end result being the same: minority rule. The solution to this cycle is again the system of Conferences and Committees: the entire society organically governing itself. When this occurs, there is only a Whole, and thus no exterior enemy to fight.10The PressWhile individuals and companies have the right to express themselves in a private capacity, "the press" as a means of expression for society must be issued by the Conferences and Committees. Otherwise, individuals would again usurp power away from others in the realm of ideas. II11The Economic Basis of the Third Universal TheoryRecent developments in working life such as unions and minimum wage do not go far enough in achieving equality for all workers. What is needed is the abolition of wage earning in favor of a "partnering" process of an individual worker with a given industry. Yields must be shared equally not only among individuals, but among all components of a production process.12NeedNeed is a central economic problem. The needs of some may be preyed upon by those who have the means to provide, and thus exploit. Government should eliminate such exploitation.13HousingThe rental of housing, for example, is exploitation, and infringes the freedom of the renter. Ideally, everyone should have only one house, because if a given party has more than one property, they will be inclined to rent it, thereby exploiting their renters.14IncomeIndividual income is essential to an economy. Again, such income should not be realized as wages paid by an owner, but as the result of partnership in an industry.15Means of TransportationTransportation should also be available to all, and at the same time not owned by some only to be rented to others, as in the case of taxi services.16LandLand, like all of the aforementioned categories, should be equally available to all. In general, the economy is a zero sum game, and components of the economy should therefore be distributed equally among all, to produce equality of outcome. No one has the right to save for themselves beyond their own needs, except up to their own arithmetic share of a given good among the whole population.17Domestic ServantsLike goods producing wage earners, service rendering domestic servants are effectively slaves. The economic model already sketched can also be applied to their situation. III18The Social Basis of the Third Universal TheoryIndividuals, families, tribes and nations are social units, and their social ties drive the process of history. Of these, the nation is a central unit, held together by nationalism. Just as the sun would dissipate without gravity, nations dissipate without national unity.19The FamilyFamilies, individuals and nations (in the sense of ethnic nation states) are natural, objective human social categories, on a continuum. Opposed to these is the artificial modern construct of the state, distinct from a nation.20The TribePast the family, the next largest human group level is the tribe. The various human social units are decreasingly important to individuals on a personal level, as their size increases.21The Merits of the TribeTribes are rooted in blood, provide social cohesion, able to internally monitor themselves due to their numbers. They also ensure the socialization of their individuals, an education more useful than a school education.22The NationAgain, nationalism is a central social category, one closely related to but distinct from other large scale social categories: religions, states, and empires. The reason why states and empires change and fall is because of their incongruence with authentic nations.23WomanWomen and men are equal as human beings, in the sense that they have the same physiological needs, and are thinking and feeling beings. However, sexual dimorphism gives rise to gender roles which are natural and appropriate to the differences between the sexes. Freedom consists in following nature, specifically in women having the ability to raise families without being forced by society to seek work which is suitable only for men.24MinoritiesMinorities are of two types: those already having a nation, and those having none, making their own. Either way, their rights must be protected.25Black People will Prevail in the WorldBlack people are poised to dominate the human population because their culture includes polygamy and shuns birth control, and because they live in a climate which is "continuously hot", with the result that work is less important for them than in other cultures.26EducationFormal school education is dictatorial, another tyranny like those listed above. Education should be made available in whatever fashion people wish to engage with it. 27Music and ArtHumans should eventually speak one language. Artistic and cultural tastes are influenced by differences in language, and the former imprint themselves "on the genes" of the individual.28Sport, Horsemanship and the StageSpectatorship in sports, theater and other entertainments is foolish. People should engage in sports directly, deriving the benefits of athletics for themselves, rather than standing by and watching others perform.

George Tremlett has called the resulting media dull and lacking in a clash of ideas. Writing for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the journalist Martin Asser described the book as follows: "The theory claims to solve the contradictions inherent in capitalism and communism In fact, it is little more than a series of fatuous diatribes, and it is bitterly ironic that a text whose professed objective is to break the shackles has been used instead to subjugate an entire population." On a 2008 visit to Libya, it was reported by Libyan state media that Bolivian President Evo Morales remarked "I read the Green Book, studied it and I am enthusiastic about the thinking spelled out in the Green Book".