Jordanian politics

Type :

Case study

Pages :

8 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

08/12/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Political science

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Summary :

Introduction
Jordan's political economy before 1989
1. The suspension of the National Assembly
2. The curtailing of the press and political associations
3. Maintaining a semi rentier economy
Steps taken toward political liberalization
1. The 1989 elections
2. The return of confiscated passports
Steps taken toward economic liberalization
1. Discussions with the IMF and World Bank
2. The large scale spending cuts
3. Trade liberalization
Restrictions on democratization after the beginning of economic liberalization
1. Multiple person representation in districts
2. Changing the voting model
Analysis: Why Jordan needed to clamp down on democracy
1. A reaction to bread riots
2. Protecting the state's legitimacy
3. Promoting rapid economic growth
Conclusion

Abstract

The IMF and World Bank have both praised the economic and political reforms Jordan launched in the 1990s. The reforms touched "domestic taxation/subsidy polices, trade liberalization polices, monetary/financial sector polices, exchange rate polices, price reform and privatization," largely accomplished between 1992 and 2004. Some scholars have described this praise over the top and "euphoric." Nonetheless, both organizations claim that Jordan vastly exceeded expectations in the last decade's austerity and economic liberalization programs. Likewise, many consider the political reforms carried out in roughly the same period (1989-1999) to be a great step forward in democratization. In 1993, The Guardian affectionately lauded King Hussein's "zeal for democracy and human rights." Indeed, the election of 1989, Jordan's first since 1967, and the loosening of restrictions on the press and other associations seem to confirm this assessment.