Overview

Jordan is the runt of the Middle East. Compared to neighboring Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, it has the smallest population, scarcest resources, and greatest vulnerability to regional violence. And yet this contrived place, with its divided society and antiquated monarchy, has outlasted endless predictions of collapse to become a veritable oasis of stability. Jordan is an accidental crucible where titanic forces have converged to create an important, if misunderstood, state. In Jordan, Sean Yom provides a concise yet authoritative synthesis of the Hashemite Kingdom's development from its founding over a century ago to the present. He explores Jordan's government, society, economy, and foreign policy in a systematic manner, offering an immersive tour of this vital Arab country. Uniquely, Yom combines theoretical work from political science, sociology, and other scholarly fields with firsthand knowledge of Jordan garnered over decades of study. His insights show how Jordan's political experiences form a microcosm for understanding the entire Middle East. Among the topics covered are its colonial legacies, fractious national identity, authoritarian rule, civil society, democratic protests, economic development, neoliberal corruption, geopolitical conflicts, and Western hegemony. A comprehensive and rigorous study of politics in Jordan, this book underscores the urgency of the country's historical struggles and contemporary affairs, which will shape the future of democracy, prosperity, and peace in the Middle East.

Full Product Details

9780190097264

Table of Contents

Reviews

An engagingly written, deeply informed and sharply observed study of the politics of Jordan-from the inner workings of the monarchy and security services and the youth activists on the streets which corrects a wide range of myths and false assumptions about the Kingdom. This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive survey of Jordanian politics, and an immediate must read for anyone interested in the real politics of today's Middle East. * Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science, The George Washington University * Yom has written a masterful account of Jordan's political history, richly informed by decades of fieldwork and a keen appreciation for the country's complexities and nuances. Wonderfully accessible yet deeply attuned to the questions that Jordan's experience raises for scholars of Middle East politics, comparative politics, and international relations, Yom's volume will stand as an essential text for a wide range of audiences. * Steven Heydemann, Janet W. Ketcham 1953 Professor of Middle East Studies, Smith College * In this book, Yom manages to take apart a series of myths and tropes regarding Jordan-and there are many. Yom shows both what Jordan is and what it is not. This is a well-written, accessible, and excellent analysis of Jordan and its politics, providing a masterful framework for truly understanding state, society, and political life in a kingdom that is too often misunderstood. * Curtis Ryan, Appalachian State University * Sean Yom provides a masterful introduction to Jordan that is accessible to new readers while also providing a state-of-the field analysis of political science arguments about Jordan. Rich in empirical detail, each chapter unfolds around Yom's expertise without being pretentious or plodding. Highly recommended for newcomers as well as for experts looking for a single volume that gracefully covers tremendous ground. * Jillian Schwedler, Professor of Political Science, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, The City University of New York *

Author Information

Sean Yom is Associate Professor of Political Science at Temple University. He is a specialist on regimes and governance in the Middle East, especially in Arab monarchies like Jordan, Kuwait, and Morocco. His research engages authoritarian politics, democratic reforms, and economic development in the region, as well as their implications for US foreign policy. He is the author of From Resilience to Revolution (2015) and a co-editor of The Political Science of the Middle East (with Marc Lynch and Jillian Schwedler; Oxford 2022).

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