Libya, that sparsely populated North African country on the shores of the Mediterranean, has a history of punching above its weight. The Libyan people, in their first postrevolutionary elections, have just done it again, defying the conventional wisdom by thoroughly trouncing Islamist parties at the polls.
Whether through the antics of its outrageous former dictator, the flamboyant Moammar Gadhafi, or through its opposition’s so-far-unmatched success at enlisting NATO's firepower in deposing his oppressive regime, Libya has managed to make headlines and even to bend the curve of history.
Conceivably, the latest electoral results, which still leave many unanswered questions, have the potential to make large waves that could travel far.