World Citizen: Can Jordan Find a Way to Peaceful, Successful Reform?

World Citizen: Can Jordan Find a Way to Peaceful, Successful Reform?

AMMAN, Jordan -- Two years after the start of the Arab Spring, Jordan’s King Abdullah II has launched what he says is a third way. His approach, the king maintains, will bring peaceful democratic change, empowering the people and modernizing the country, while averting chaos and preventing extremist parties from emerging victorious. It’s a tall order, and one that has met with doubt among many skeptics and critics.

So far, the Arab uprisings have given people of all political persuasions a reason to feel anxious. Arab liberals have not made any significant gains. Islamist groups, the principal winners until now, are struggling, and monarchies are still on their guard, hoping they can avert the disaster that befell other non-elected regimes in the region. Abdullah’s approach, if successful, could provide a template for change.

The fate of Jordan is of utmost concern to the West, Israel and many in the Arab world, particularly other monarchs. Washington hopes the king will succeed because Jordan is America’s top Arab ally, pivotal on a number of important strategic matters, including the continuing unraveling of nearby Syria. Israel, too, is watching closely. Jordan is one of two Arab countries officially at peace with the Jewish state, and is a key player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Along the Persian Gulf, Arab kings and emirs, who helped King Abdullah fend off what looked like the start of an Arab Spring uprising, fear that if the Hashemite king loses power in Jordan, it will trigger a new wave of uprisings that might sweep them out as well.

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article as well as three free articles per month. You'll also receive our free email newsletter to stay up to date on all our coverage:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having your own personal researcher and analyst for news and events around the globe. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of 15,000+ articles
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday
  • Weekly in-depth reports on important issues and countries
  • Daily links to must-read news, analysis, and opinion from top sources around the globe, curated by our keen-eyed team of editors
  • Your choice of weekly region-specific newsletters, delivered to your inbox.
  • Smartphone- and tablet-friendly website.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review