Identity Politics, Reform, and Protest in Jordan

Abstract

In 2011, inspired in part by the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, Jordanians too took to the streets calling for change. Their numbers varied from hundreds to thousands, but not to the tens and even hundreds of thousands that had, for example, poured into Tahrir Square to topple Egyptian President Husni Mubarak. Jordanian protesters in 2011 called for reform, but not regime change. But the protests also came at a time of resurgent identity politics within Jordan and, hence, of rising tensions between Palestinians and East Jordanians, and even between tribes within the East Jordanian community. They also came at a time of resurgent political activism, which had already seen protests in the streets over elections, electoral laws, and governance. This analysis provides a brief examination of the main ethnic and national fault lines within Jordanian politics, and how these affect – and are affected by – the 2011 uprisings in the Arab world.