With the creation of a new government, Libya's leaders should finally be able to focus on organizing the transition from the authoritarian state that they inherited to the more pluralistic one they envisage. But are they really able and willing to achieve that goal?

In the United States, the debate on Libya has focused on what steps its government should take next. Sen. Robert Menendez argues it "must move quickly to embrace democratic reform," while international development specialists, such as Manal Omar of the U.S. Institute for Peace, believe that success lies in the cultivation of a vibrant civil society.

These views, however, overlook Libya's unique history, and treat Libya as though it were just another Third World country in need of generic solutions. In fact, remedying the country's ills requires building strong state institutions.