Defensive Democratization in Jordan

Abstract

Jordan's political-liberalization program, initiated in 1989, represents the longest sustained such opening in the Arab world today. During this time, Jordan has held three national parliamentary elections, enacted a number of liberalizing laws, removed many restrictions on the press, and minimized the role that the security services, or mukhābarāt, play in repressing opposition. Moreover, the liberalization program has survived a number of severe challenges, including the second Gulf War and the subsequent loss of Jordan's major regional trading partner, Iraq; the implementation of a difficult domestic austerity program; and the conclusion of a controversial peace treaty with Israel.

Creating democrats? Testing the Arab Spring

“…The media are restricted not only by harsh press laws; the Jordanian government owns substantial shares of the leading newspapers: 60 percent of al-Rai, 35 percent of al-Dustur, and 75 percent of Sawt al-Shab. 11 The security services have to approve all journalists working in the country. Unions and professional organizations have continued to hold internal elections and function with some autonomy, but they are typically hostile to foreign funding.…”

On Fatalism in Nuclear Proliferation Studies: Questioning a Tenacious Historical Reading

“…Furthermore, the argument that authoritarian regimes are intrinsically and unavoidably attracted by the bomb does not hold water. In addition to the Libyan example, we can mention Jordan, which saw its first parliamentary elections take place as late as 1993; the status of its democracy is still a subject for debate (Robinson 1998), and the peace treaty with Israel only dates back to 1994. The country seems, however, never to have sought to acquire nuclear weapons (Solingen 2007:252).…”

Beyond Boom and Bust: External Rents, Durable Authoritarianism, and Institutional Adaptation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

“…Furthermore, Jordan's political "opening" was not only short-lived but also a deliberate move to consolidate Hashemite authority. Although moderate Islamists and secular groups were allowed to participate in Parliament, power ultimately remained vested in the King and a few close advisors (Robinson 1998;Lust-Okar 2005). Parliamentary districts were severely malapportioned to overrepresent Bedouins and ethnic minorities at the expense of urban areas and in 1993, the electoral law was amended to a "one person, one vote" scheme that was intended to privilege tribal candidates in light of the 1989 success of the Islamists.…”