Protests in Jordan May - June 2018.
Forget about Audis and foreign holidays.
People are just hungry.
decade of failed social, economic and political reform in Jordan
explain mass anti-government protests demanding resignation of government
protests prompt concerns about survival of Hashemite dynasty
govt failure to respond to long-standing discontent that
simmering across region just below surface
anger, frustration with govts failed to deliver public goods and services
core of popular Arab revolts in 2011 toppled Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen
protest corruption and tax bill that reduces living standards
Jordan's double digit unemployment
21% population below poverty line
burdened by 2 million refugees, including 600,000 Syrians
raise taxes on employees by 5%, companies by 20%-40%
terms of a 3-year $723m dollar loan from (IMF) in 2016
repeated price rises on bread
increased taxes on basic goods like electricity and fuel
2011 protests tribal leaders took criticism public
current protests irrespective of Palestinian or tribal bears cautionary note
prominent tribal leaders unprecedented public letter to king in Feb 2011
accused Abdullah’s glamorous Palestinian wife, Queen Rania, of corruption
leaders charged Queen Rania, “sycophants and power centres surround her”
were dividing Jordanians, “stealing from country and people”
warned King Abdullah failure to tackle corruption
“similar to Tunisia, Egypt will occur.”
early warnings of what is at the core of current protests
popular demand for government that has public support
demands for political participation
King Abdullah’s efforts to project himself as reformer failed
he was unwilling to relinquish chunks of his power
cosmetic changes won’t do the job
Reform needs reformers who are committed to serious roadmap
true power-sharing through strong legislative, judicial bodies
efforts to open up politics thwarted by political elites and bureaucrats
fear that such efforts would destroy decades-old rentier system to merit-based
King Abdullah ended up appeasing conservatives at the expense of the reforms
king raised questions about how serious he was about reforms
economic liberalization took place without system of checks and balances
resulted in benefits of economic reform usurped by elite few
Economic reform must be accompanied by political reform
institutional accountability developed to ensure benefits available to all
tectonic shifts in Middle East reduced value of Jordan
to traditional allies Saudi and UAE
driven a wedge between them on key issues
Gulf states liaising directly with Israel
Jordan no longer needed as interlocutor
Jordan’s usefulness in resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict diminished
Trump effectively dashed hopes for two-state solution
pressure on Jordan’s labour market
Saudi and Gulf states push to reduce foreign labour
Israeli, Western intelligence worried
begun to ponder survivability of Jordan’s Hashemite dynasty
King Abdullah’s options narrowing as he walks tightrope
My comments : The Islamic countries just do not know how to prosper (makmur) their societies. Just bring water to the plants on time. They will grow.
Why is this so difficult.
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