Third International Theory

Third International Theory is Muammar Gaddafi’s political ideology, presented in his Green Book as an alternative to capitalism and communism based on direct popular rule.

The Green Book: Muammar Gaddafi’s three-part work setting out his political, economic, and social ideas. It is the primary text in which Gaddafi presents the theory.
Basic People's Congresses: Local Libyan assemblies intended to let citizens discuss and decide public matters. They were presented as the foundational units of political participation under the theory.
Libya under Muammar Gaddafi: Libya’s political period under Muammar Gaddafi, from his 1969 coup until his overthrow in 2011. This was the principal setting in which the theory was officially applied.
Capitalism: An economic system centered on private ownership of capital and production for markets. The theory rejects capitalist wage relations and private control of productive resources.
Authoritarianism: A form of government concentrating power in a leader or small group while restricting political competition. Gaddafi’s rule remained highly centralized despite the system’s claims of direct popular authority.
Popular sovereignty: The principle that political authority ultimately belongs to the people. The theory claims that people should exercise authority directly rather than delegate it.
People's Committees: Libyan administrative bodies assigned to implement decisions and manage public institutions. They were intended to carry out decisions made through the congress system.
1977 Libyan Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority: The declaration that formally established Libya’s Jamahiriya system in 1977. It translated the theory’s language of popular authority into Libya’s official constitutional framework.
Communism: A political and economic ideal of a classless society with common ownership of productive resources. Gaddafi presented his system as distinct from communist state and party models.
Personality cult: The organized elevation of a political leader through pervasive praise, symbols, and public messaging. Gaddafi’s prominence complicates the theory’s claim that political power belonged to the people.

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History of Libya under Muammar GaddafiBroader topic: It supplied the regime’s official justification for rejecting parliamentary democracy.