The Green Book is a short book setting out the political philosophy of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. It is said to have been inspired in part by The Little Red Book (Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung)
Influence
In Libya
According to British author and former Greater London Council member George Tremlett, Libyan children spent two hours a week studying the book as part of their curriculum. Extracts were broadcast every day on television and radio. Its slogans were also found on billboards and painted on buildings in Libya
International
By 1993 lectures and seminars on The Green Book had been held at universities and colleges in France, Eastern Europe, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Views
The Green Book rejects both capitalism and communism, as well as representative democracy. Instead, it proposes a type of direct democracy overseen by the General People's Committee which allows direct political participation for all adult citizens.
The book states that "Freedom of expression is the natural right of every person, even if they choose to behave irrationally, to express his or her insanity." The Green Book states that freedom of speech is based upon public ownership of book publishers, newspapers, television, and radio stations, on the grounds that private ownership would be undemocratic.
A paragraph in the book about abolishing money is similar to a paragraph in Frederick Engels' Principles of Communism.Gaddafi wrote: "The final step is when the new socialist society reaches the stage where profit and money disappear. It is through transforming society into a fully productive society, and through reaching in production a level where the material needs of the members of society are satisfied. On that final stage, profit will automatically disappear and there will be no need for money."
Outline
The Solution of the Problem of Democracy: The Au- thority of the People
1 The Instrument Of Government
2 Parliaments
3 The Party
4 Class
5 Plebiscites
6 Popular Conferences And People’s Committees
7 The Law Of Society
8 Who Supervises The Conduct Of Society?
9 How Can Society Redirect Its Course When Deviations From Its Laws Occur?
10 The Press
The Solution of the Economic Problem: Socialism
11 The Economic Basis Of The Third Universal Theory
12 Need
13 Housing
14 Income
15 Means Of Transportation 16 Land
16 Domestic Servants
The Social Basis of The Third Universal Theory
18 The Social Basis Of The Third Universal Theory
19 The Family
20 The Tribe
21 The Merits Of The Tribe
22 The Nation
23 Woman
24 Minoritie
25 Black People Will Prevail In The World
26 Education
27 Music And Art
28 Sport, Horsemanship And The Stage