Jordan
Jordan performs in the mid-range across all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework. Over the past five years, there has been an improvement in Economic Equality. Globally, Jordan is in the bottom 25 per cent of countries in multiple factors of Representation and Rights. It is a lower-middle income country, and it has a diverse, service-oriented economy that struggles with high unemployment.
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a young country formed in 1921 under British mandate following the Ottoman Empire's collapse. Known as Transjordan until 1946, its borders were drawn based on geopolitical rather than historical or ethnic lines, and shifted overtime as Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1948, lost its control in 1967, and renounced claims to it in 1988 by ceding it to Palestine. Consolidated as a constitutional monarchy in 1952, Jordan regularly holds elections for its bicameral parliament. Common electoral challenges include a weak party system (only 13 per cent of parliamentary seats are held by party representatives), as well as the influence of tribal constituencies and low voter turnout.
A few key fault lines drive politics in contemporary Jordan. First, despite a nominally representative government, power is largely exerted through royal appointments, and the media remains under substantial state influence. Along with ongoing economic challenges, this context has led many youths to question the political system's legitimacy and to call for major systemic changes. While Jordan did not witness a mass anti-regime uprising in 2011, ongoing protests reflect key drivers such as lack of trust in the political system and corruption. While the government has introduced some socially progressive reforms, the 2022 constitutional amendments also diminished parliament's oversight of royal appointments, and expanded the monarch's authority to appoint, dismiss members of the cabinet and Senate, and dissolve parliament. Furthermore, women’s rights activists point to unequal treatment by Sharia courts as a major target of reform, and only 13.1% per cent of Jordanian parliamentarians were women in 2021. While homosexuality is legal in Jordan, LGBTQIA+ activists highlight harassment and intimidation by the secret police as a major source of distress.
Other political divisions in Jordan are centered around identity. The country is home to a mix of ethnic and religious groups. Palestinian refugees are estimated to comprise 50 per cent of the population, with the other half consisting of Arab Bedouins and a large population of Syrian refugees, mostly in urban areas. Despite their numbers, Palestinians face widespread discrimination in the private sector and underrepresentation in government. This divide persists partly because Jordanian nationalism is deeply rooted in tribal and clan identities, which separate “East Bankers” (those originating east of the Jordan River) from West Bankers, or Palestinians. Since Jordan's independence in 1946, Islamists (politically represented by the Muslim Brotherhood) and secularists have also clashed over views on modernization, the role of Islam in politics, civil liberties, the relationship with Israel, and ties with Western countries.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the state of Rights and Participation, especially as the country has seen an increase in protests, and the government has been criticized for cracking down on dissent, limiting freedom of speech and press, and engaging in human rights violations.
Last Updated: June 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
February 2024
Increased crackdown on activists and protestors
Recent developments in Jordan have seen an escalation in actions against pro-Palestinian activists, with a notable increase in arrests and harassment since October. This crackdown has extended to those participating in demonstrations or engaging in online advocacy for Palestine. A significant aspect of this repression is the application of a new, controversial cybercrime law, which critics argue has been leveraged to prosecute activists and suppress dissent. Similarly, a recent investigation revealed that numerous political activists, journalists, and human rights lawyers were targeted by the government and had their mobile devices compromised by sophisticated spyware. Several rights organizations have documented these actions and raised concerns over the growing repression and constraints on essential freedoms of expression and assembly. These measures have raised alarms about the broader implications for civil liberties in Jordan, highlighting a troubling trend toward limiting public discourse and political activism.
Sources: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International IDEA, Access Now, Al Monitor
July 2023
Parliament approves controversial cybercrime legislation
On 27 July, Jordan's parliament passed a controversial cybercrime law which was subsequently ratified by King Abdullah II on 12 August. The legislation has received widespread criticism from opposition MPs, several rights groups, legal experts, and journalists, who argue it undermines free speech and independent journalism. The new law criminalizes certain online activities and imposes penalties for content considered harmful to national unity. Following the implementation of the law, a prominent journalist was sentenced to prison over a Facebook post expressing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the demonstrations against fuel prices in late 2022, contributing further to concerns over shrinking civic space and restricted press freedom in Jordan.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Human Rights Watch, Al Quds, International Press Institute, Middle East Monitor
December 2022
Violent clashes across Jordan amid protests over rising fuel prices
The rising fuel prices that have added to the cost-of-living challenges in Jordan sparked anti-government demonstrations across the kingdom. Road closures initiated by truck drivers demanding a reduction in the price of diesel fuel escalated into country-wide riots that lasted for several weeks. Deadly clashes erupted in multiple cities between protestors and police, with the killing of four policemen, in some of the worst unrest Jordan has witnessed in many years. Many Jordanians took to social media to share videos from the strike and attacks by the police on civilians. Amid heightened tensions, the government disrupted internet services and banned TikTok. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate announced a “temporary suspension” of the social media platform under the pretext of inciting violence and disorder.
Sources: Al Bawaba News, Anadolu Agency, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, Jordan News, Jordanian Public Security Directorate
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
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