Liberalization and Deliberalization in Jordan

Unlike many of its immediate neighbors, the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan has since 1989 allowed for competitive elections, some level of pluralism, and the emergence of civil society. But for Jordanians who support the kingdom’s liberalization process, the string of setbacks and disappointments in the liberalization process since the mid-1990’s has become intolerable, with the postponement of national parliamentary elections providing just the latest example. This essay provides an analysis of Jordan’s spluttering liberalization process, especially in the context of rising regional tensions.