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Friday, July 27, 2018

Jordan bergolak, Queen Rania Accused of Corruption

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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