Sociologists and political scientists argue that Gaddafi's unique style of governance, which bypassed formal state institutions in favor of personal patronage, doomed Libya to post-regime collapse. By deliberately weakening the military and civil service to prevent coups, he ensured that no stable infrastructure existed to succeed him. When the dictator fell, the state fell with him. This serves as proof that long-term stability requires strong, independent institutions rather than the charismatic, centralized authority of a single ruler.