Does Jordan Seem Stable? A Century Since An Establishment (original) (raw)
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Handbook on Contemporary Jordan, 2019
Jordan offers us a very interesting case study of the ways in which modern global political and economic processes interact with local political economy to shape individual states. This chapter argues that Jordan, as a small state by most interpretations, faces immense structural limitations, yet under King Abdullah II, it has endured and its political economy has evolved in response to the dynamic set of challenges the country faces. This chapter first explores the most prevalent challenges and limitations to Jordan’s economic development and contextualizes the key features of Jordan’s political economy in the 21st century. This chapter also outlines the ways in which the political and economic issues that the kingdom faces shape national economic policy-making. Any discussion of the political economy of Jordan needs to consider energy insecurity and freshwater scarcity – two issues that are explored in detail in this chapter. Energy insecurity and freshwater scarcity reveal a great deal about the nature of Jordan’s political economy, representing Jordan’s most pressing security concerns and demonstrating the state’s pragmatism in its policy responses to developmental challenges. The chapter then explores the embedding of economic neoliberalism, led by the government and King Abdullah II in particular. Neoliberal policies have become prevalent in Jordanian decision-making circles and have transformed Jordan’s political economy – but are not particularly popular on the street. The chapter concludes that given the challenges facing Jordan’s political economy in the 21st century, it is safe to say that Jordan will remain a small state that will have to continue to respond to processes that are largely out of its control. Budgetary insecurity, poverty, high unemployment, energy insecurity, freshwater scarcity, and the polarising effects of economic neoliberalism all pose serious challenges to Jordan’s development and stability. Yet with all of these considerations in mind, the story of Jordan’s political economy is one of resilience as much as it is one of challenges, and the kingdom is likely to continue to develop, albeit somewhat unevenly.
STABLE JORDAN: HOW A MONARCHY SURVIVED DISORDER
STABLE JORDAN: HOW A MONARCHY SURVIVED DISORDER, 2021
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has recently experienced large-scale unrest on a scale not witnessed for several years. The country, long viewed as a beacon of stability in a deeply fragile region, now faces a growing risk that it could be destabilised. This article addresses multiple pillars of stability and drivers of instability in Jordan, including the impact of the Syrian crisis, large-scale displacement, resource scarcity, and chronic political, economic, and social difficulties. Whilst the regime has endured crisis and remained stable, increasing pressures in the past few years have led analysts to predict the onset of violence or deepening instability in Jordan.
Jordan: Strategy for Adjustment and Growth
International Monetary Fund eBooks, 1996
The papers presented in this study were prepared by staff members who have participated in cooperative exchanges between Jordan and the IMF over the past three years. The authors acknowledge the excellent research assistance provided by Use-Marie Fayad and secretarial support by Irene Carpenter, Susan Jones, and Mary Ann Miles. The authors are also grateful to Elisa Diehl of the External Relations Department, who edited the paper for publication and coordinated production. The views expressed here, as well as any errors, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government of Jordan, the Executive Directors of the IMF, or other members of the IMF staff. The study was completed in August 1995 and is based on information available at that time. vii ©International Monetary Fund. Not for Redistribution This page intentionally left blank ©International Monetary Fund. Not for Redistribution 3 Based on the revised sectoral classification recommended by the IMF's Statistics Department; because of reclassification, the changes shown under this column may not be meaningful. 4 Consists of central government operations: net general budget and net own budget. 5 Also includes claims on municipalities and local governments and on the Social Security Corporation. includes claims on specialized credit institutions (for the period up to 1993 under the old classification) and financial institutions. 7 Excluding grants from the Gulf Crisis Financial Coordination Group and transfers of workers' savings. 8 Readily usable foreign exchange of the Central Bank of Jordan; excluding foreign exchange deposits by residents at the Central Bank of Jordan, gold, and claims on the Central Bank of Iraq; data are for end of period. 9 Period averages.
Hassan BARARI, “Reform and the Dynamics of In/stability in Jordan during the Arab Uprisings”
The argument that Jordan is a remarkably stable country in a volatile region has become axiomatic. Some contend that the Hashemite monarchy is indispensable for the country's stability. Nonetheless, an in-depth analysis of Jordan's political status quo reveals the deep-seated cleavages that-if left unattended-could jeopardize the stability of the country in years to come. The advent of a political awakening among Jordan's youth-who display unprecedented self-entitlement-and the eruption of the Arab uprisings have left the monarch with two options: either effect genuine reform to restore the public's trust in the regime or risk facing future instability. This paper identifies the shortcomings and imperfections of the current autocratic status quo and assesses the prospects of instability. My intent in this paper is to explain and contextualize the intricate dynamics of the regime's insistence on reproducing the non-democratic status quo during the Arab Spring and question whether this might lead to instability in the long term in a changing society.
Journal of Democracy, 2013
Why has Jordan’s authoritarianism remained so stubborn? What makes the country’s Hashemite monarchy exceptional is that virtually no constituency apart from domestic oppositionists and international human-rights organizations puts consistent pressure on the kingdom to democratize. Western policy makers and Jordanian officials have successfully cultivated the kingdom’s image as a “moderate” Arab state, an oasis of stability and key ally in the world’s most strategic and turbulent region. Foreign aid from the United States and its allies remains the kingdom’s economic lifeline, and thus the best means by which to encourage the regime to actually take popular demands into account in its next reform gambit. With stability on the line, the next five years will prove to be the crucible for the Jordanian crown.
Democracy or Stability? Everlasting Dilemma of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Hemispheres. Studies on Cultures and Societies, 2017
So far Jordan has witnessed only minor reforms, and the word "democracy" has been used as a façade for the authoritarian regime. The ruling elites, to a great extent, explain such approach by their willingness to provide security and stability. The question that should be raised, however, is why stability has to necessarily oppose the notion of democracy? This paper aims to explore this dilemma by analyzing key features of the monarchy, indicating how stability is embedded in it. The paper concludes that the stability rhetoric pursued by the regime and transposed onto the society hinders further democratic development in Jordan.