Jordan: Living in the CrossfireJordan has played a bigger role in Middle Eastern affairs than its size and economy might warrant, due to its huge Palestinian population, its strategic location between Israel, the West Bank, Syria and Iraq, and its uniquely close relationship with successive British and US administrations. Drawing on numerous visits to the country and interviews with a diversity of people from King Abdullah down, Alan George describes how its reasonably stable monarchical system, unlike that in most Arab countries, has allowed the halting development of civil society and maintained control through the skilful co-option of opponents rather than heavy-handed reliance on its secret police. What is daily life like? How do its parliamentary system and political parties work? How free are the media? What are the future prospects of this buffer 'state without a nation'? |
Contents
The Creation of Jordan | |
Jordan under King Hussain | |
Jordan under King Abdullah II | |
Abdullah bin alHussain King | |
Barjas alHadid Tribal Shaikh | |
Rajai Khoury Businessman | |
Awad ashShubaiki Farmer | |
Anisa Salim Refugee | |
The Royal Family and the Royal Court | |
Parliament and Parties | |
The Legal System | |
The Media | |
The Future | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abu Muhammad Amman Anisa appointed April Aqaba Arab army Article Awad Baqa'a Barjas bedu British camp cent Centre crisis Damascus declared democracy deputies Dr Al-Bustani Dr Khoury East economic elections establishment explained Faisal family’s father February forces foreign freedom Hamzah Hashemite Hashemite Kingdom Hejaz Hinchcliffe Human Rights Ibid International International Crisis Group Interview with author Iraq Iraqi Irbid Islamic Islamic Action Front Islamists Israel Israeli Jordan Statistical Yearbook Jordanian journalists July June kilometres King Abdullah King Hussain king’s Kingdom of Jordan Kuwait Lawrence live London Ma'an major military monarchy Muhammad Muslim nationalist October official organisations Palestine Palestinian parliament peace Peter Hinchcliffe political parties population president prime minister Prince programme public universities refugees regime region relations Royal Court Saudi Security Court Shaikh society Syria thawb there’s Transjordan tribal tribe University’s Wadi wasta West Bank Zarqa