Our world is often defined by winners and losers. Sports, politics, prize drawings, lottery, competitions, awards ceremonies, love, and life - all have winners and losers.

Winning or losing is neither right nor wrong. It just is. Sometimes winning is due to luck; other times it is a function of skill; talent often plays a role; then there are times when winning is a combination of these things and much more. Most people prefer to win because losing can be a painful, humiliating and lonely experience.

We know that losing is hard. When you have invested time and energy in something, losing feels very personal. When luck seems to be the biggest factor, losing can feel like having salt rubbed in a wound. However, being a winner can be just as difficult. You want to celebrate and believe you and your abilities are the reasons behind your victory. You want to be happy and for others to congratulate you. But when the stakes are high and there is much to lose, winning can feel like a curse.

In a democracy there are winners and losers too. Understanding what it is to be a winner and a loser is extremely important if the democracy is to work. If a winner forgets what it is like to be a loser, then the democracy can suffer. 

This weekend I worked at the Attawasul Youth Conference in Benghazi. For decades, Libya has been a country where the majority of its citizens were the losers. At the conference I watched as multiple generations came together to discuss how to ensure they do not lose again.

These individuals are just a few of the millions of Libyans talking about a new Libya. This is their time to be winners and I wonder what kind of winners they will be? Will they be like the winners that humiliated them? Or will they learn lessons from the past? Will they create a strong democracy where the losers can still walk away with their dignity and a chance to run again?

Can the winners in Libya do so gracefully? I think this is one of the biggest questions for their future - and only time will tell.

Written by Ethan Ohs, Frontrunner Director

Ethan recently spent five days in Libya working at the Attawasul Youth Conference. Over three days he worked with a group from across the Arab world to explore leadership, governance and democracy. Most of his group were from Libya though he also worked with participants from the UK, US and Yemen.