Part 6/10:
Initially, Gaddafi's regime was met with enthusiasm by many young Libyans who were eager for change. However, disillusionment grew over the years as Gaddafi's authoritarian rule emerged. By the 1970s and 1980s, political repression intensified. Gaddafi's government suppressed dissent through terror tactics, including public executions, and the establishment of paramilitary groups which acted to root out any opposition.
The economy, heavily nationalized, struggled under Gaddafi’s socialist policies. Although Libya experienced brief economic prosperity due to oil revenues, Gaddafi's mismanagement led to widespread corruption and poverty, particularly among the ordinary citizens who were meant to benefit from his regime's socialist principles.