The effects of the peace process on political liberalization in Jordan

Journal of Palestine Studies

Volumn 28, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 52-67

  Brand, Laurie A ^a,b  

^a Dept of International Relations ^*

^b UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DEMOCRATIZATION; LIBERALIZATION; PEACE PROCESS; POLITICAL SYSTEM;

JORDAN;

EID: 0033056487     PISSN: 0377919X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/2537934     Document Type: Article

References (30)

1. For a review of the democratic peace literature see Steve Chan, "In Search of Democratic Peace: Problems and Promise," Mershon International Studies Review 41 (1997), pp. 59-91.
2. On democratizing states, see Edward Mansfield and Jack Snyder, "Democratization and the Danger of War," International Security 20, no. 1, pp. 15-38.
3. Malik Mufti, "Elite Bargains and the Onset of Political Liberalization in Jordan," accepted for publication by Comparative Political Studies, February 1999.
4. Pascaline Eury, Jordanie: Les Elections Legislatives du 8 novembre 1989 (Beirut: Centre d'Etudes et Recherches sur le Moyen Orient Contemporain, 1991), pp. 55-57.
5. The number of Islamists elected depends on the source consulted, the differences arising from the definition of "independent Islamist." I found the number of Islamist MPs as high as 34 and as low as 28. Most often 28 or 30 is cited. But even taking the lowest figure, Islamists controlled more than one-third of the 80-seat house.
6. The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan is an offshoot of the movement of the same name founded in Egypt in the late 1920s. While it accounts for the majority of Islamists in Jordan, struggles internal to the movement as well as approaches outside the Ikhwan have meant that there are a significant number of independent Islamists as well.
7. Middle East International (MEI), 25 May 1990.
8. These relations were cultivated during an earlier (1980-84) tenure as prime minister, when Jordanian support for the Ikhwan, especially their Syrian members, had played a role in the deterioration of relations between Amman and Damascus.
9. Louis-Jean Duclos, "Les Elections legislatives en Jordanie," Maghreb-Machrek, no. 129 (July-September 1990), p. 66. Mufti argues that the Ikhwan was not interested in cabinet participation at this point. Mufti, "Elite Bargains," p. 15.
10. Louis-Jean Duclos, "Les Elections legislatives en Jordanie," Maghreb-Machrek, no. 129 (July-September 1990), p. 66. Mufti argues that the Ikhwan was not interested in cabinet participation at this point. Mufti, "Elite Bargains," p. 15.
11. Jordan Times (JT), 3 January 1990.
12. Eury, Jordanie: Les Elections Legislatives, p. 68.
13. See Laurie A. Brand, "Liberalization and Changing Political Coalitions: The Bases of Jordan's 1990-91 Gulf Crisis Policy," Jerusalem Journal of International Relations 13, no. 4 (1991), pp. 1-46.
14. 'Abdallah 'Akaylah, Education; 'Adnan Jaljuli, Health; Majid Khalifeh, Justice; Yusuf al-'Azm, Social Development; and Ibrahim Zayd al-Kilani, Religious Affairs.
15. MEI, 11 January 1991.
16. MEI, 28 June 1991.
17. In the Jordanian political system, members of the Lower House may also serve simultaneously as cabinet ministers.
18. JT, 19-20 December 1991.
19. See the series of JT articles written by Lamis Andoni analyzing the failure of the Masri government, 23, 24, and 27 November 1991.
20. Author's interview with Tahir al-Masri, Amman, 11 May 1993.
21. It should be noted here that, owing to the existing electoral district boundaries, which do not capture comparable numbers of voters in each district, the urban areas - especially Amman and Zarqa-are grossly underrepresented. Given that Palestinians live in greatest concentration in just these urban areas, this means that the kingdom's citizens of Palestinian origin are underrepresented in parliament.
22. JT, 4 June 1994.
23. See editorial by Musa Keilani, JT, 6 August 1994.
24. MEI, 6 September 1996.
25. MEI, 8 November 1996.
26. MEI, 22 November 1996.
27. MEI, 30 May 1997.
28. MEI, 27 June 1997.
29. MEI, 27 February 1998.
30. Among the aspects criticized were the interpretative leeway allowed the government in deciding what constituted a violation; the penalties (including prison) for journalists, editors, and owners of publications for violations of the law; the fact that a publication could be closed down on the basis of an accusation of a violation; and the broad definition of what constitutes a publication.