• Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Global logoCarnegie lettermark logo
Democracy
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Frederic Wehrey"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North Africa",
    "Libya"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Religion"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other

Salafism and Libya’s State Collapse: The Case of the Madkhalis

Adherents of the current of Salafism known as “Madkhalism” have emerged as a major social, religious, political, and military force across Libya. But the so-called Madkhalis remain poorly understood and are often treated as a monolithic bloc or as proxies for Saudi Arabia.

Link Copied
By Frederic Wehrey
Published on Dec 19, 2019

Source: Salafism in the Maghreb: Politics, Piety, and Militancy

Adherents of the current of Salafism known as “Madkhalism” have emerged as a major social, religious, political, and military force across Libya. But the so-called Madkhalis remain poorly understood and are often treated as a monolithic bloc or as proxies for Saudi Arabia. Drawing on fieldwork across the country, a book chapter explores the history of Madkhalism during and after the Qadhafi regime, its interactions with other forms of communal and political identity, its doctrinal splits, and its relationship to Saudi clerical authorities.

Read the chapter

This chapter is an excerpt from Salafism in the Maghreb: Politics, Piety, and Militancy, published by Oxford University Press.

Frederic Wehrey
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Frederic Wehrey
ReligionNorth AfricaLibya

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Photo of Duma Boko in a gray suit waving at a crowd.
    Article
    Africa’s Democratic Kaleidoscope: Trends to Watch in 2026

    Supporters of democracy within and outside the continent should track these four patterns in the coming year.

      Saskia Brechenmacher, Frances Z. Brown

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026?

    2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues should the EU prepare for in the coming year?

      Thomas de Waal

  • Article
    Rethinking Power-Sharing Agreements in Libya

    The UN Support Mission in the country should reassess its approach so that consensus between the warring parties becomes the eventual goal, rather than a procedural matter that dogs the negotiating process at every turn.

      Soraya Rahem

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    Has Sisi Found a Competent Military Entrepreneur?

    Mustaqbal Misr has expanded its portfolio with remarkable speed, but a lack of transparency remains.

      Yezid Sayigh

  • Photo of Ukrainian soldiers operating a drone.
    Article
    A Shadow War in the Global South: Are Kyiv’s Operations in Africa Paying Off?

    Kyiv’s diplomatic outreach to Africa is increasingly in tension with the work of Ukrainian intelligence services that have targeted Kremlin-related entities across the continent.

      Sam Bowden

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie global logo, stacked
1779 Massachusetts Avenue NWWashington, DC, 20036-2103Phone: 202 483 7600Fax: 202 483 1840
  • Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
  • Donate
  • Programs
  • Events
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Contact
  • Annual Reports
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Government Resources
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.