BBC: The Gaddafi regime is seemingly on its last legs in Libya, questions are inevitably being raised about what comes next.But this is a country where the trappings of a normal state simply do not apply.
Col Muammar Gaddafi created such a personalised system of governing that he left no space for anything beyond himself, his family and the narrow ruling elite, many of whom were drawn from his own tribe, the Qadhadhfa.
Unlike in Tunisia or Egypt, those forces that could have helped to smooth the transition process such as political parties, trades unions, opposition groups or civil society organisations simply do not exist in Libya.
Indeed the country has been notable for its almost total lack of functioning institutions, as all power has been concentrated so heavily around the "Brother Leader".
This personality cult goes some way to explain why Col Gaddafi is going to fight to the death. Although his power is weakening as the opposition is moving ever closer, he still holds Tripoli, his traditional power base.
Yet were he to cling on to the city his ability to govern would be almost non-existent. His actions over the past few days have destroyed any remnants of credibility he and his regime might have had and repression alone is unlikely to be enough to keep him in place. >>> Alison Pargeter, Analyst and writer on the Middle East and North Africa | Thursday, February 24, 2011
