The 2018 Jordanian Demonstrations: Neoliberalism, Social Contracts, and the Impact of IMF

Naser  Tahboub; Debbie  Abuelghanam

doi:10.35516/hum.v50i2.4935

Authors

Naser Tahboub Department of International Relations, Diplomacy and Regional Studies, Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of International Studies, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6243-7078
Debbie Abuelghanam Department of International Relations, Diplomacy and Regional Studies, Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of International Studies, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9539-4430

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v50i2.4935

Keywords:

Jordan, Neoliberalism, Legitimacy, Social Contract, Post Arab Spring

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the article is to analyze the street protests that took place from June to November 2018 against the reforms forced by the IMF.

Method: The research method utilized for this research is the qualitative method.

Results: Consequently, the following results were determined: The 2018 demonstrations differed from the previous protests because of civil society’s cohesiveness in organizing and leading the demonstrations with almost no violence. From the authors’ perspective, the external pressures outweighed the internal pressures. Changes to the social contract were a definitive reason for the protests. The protests achieved some of the goals that they had set out to achieve. These protests were not a form of reignited “Arab Spring.”

Conclusion: In conclusion, While Jordan has seen street protests from time to time, these demonstrations while they were different, are not the beginnings of a new “Arab Spring”. Rather, they were some of the most effective protests in the last 2 decades contract were a definitive reason for the protests. The protests achieved some of the goals that they had set out to achieve. These protests were not a form of reignited “Arab Spring”.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abu Rumman, H. (2018). Effect of the election law for the year 2016 on the structure of the eighteenth house of representatives. Jerusalem Center for Political Studies, 10–16.

Abu Rumman, M. (2018). Jordan and the risk of the deal of the century! Al-Ghad Newspaper, 20 March, 2018.

http://www.alghad.com/articles/2159792-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86

Al-Anani, J. (2018). Jordan and the way of transition from dependence to self-reliance. Jerusalem Center for Political Studies.

Al-Dustour Newspaper. Issue 18250, 14 May, 2018, 22.

Al-Dustour Newspaper. Issue 18340, 16 August, 2018, 32.

Al-Ghad Newspaper. Issue 4105, 12 January, 2016, 1.

Al-Ghad Newspaper. Issue 4539, 28 March, 2017, 33.

Al-Ghad Newspaper. Issue 4544, 2 April, 2017, 10.

Al-Ghad Newspaper. Issue 4852, 12 February, 2018, 5.

Al-Ghad Newspaper. 7 June, 2018. Available at: http://cutt.us/GMVHZ (2 November 2018).

Al-Ghad Newspaper. Issue 5029, 11 August, 2018, 5.

Al Masri, R (2018).Online public engagement in Jordan. file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/public%20engagement%20in%20Jordan.pdf

Bani Salameh, M. (2017) Political reform in Jordan: Reality and aspirations. World Affairs, 180(4), 47–78.

Boas, Taylor C, & Gans-Morse J. (2009) Neoliberalism: From new liberal philosophy to anti-liberal slogan. Studies in Comparative International Development, 44, 137–161.

Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam International, and Save the Children (2016) From words to action: Reviewing the commitments made at the ‘Supporting Syria and the region’ conference six months On. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/words-action-reviewing-commitments-made-supporting-syria-and-region (accessed 21 August 2020).

Department of Statistics. (2018). Jordan statistical yearbook: Section on external trade. 2 http://dosweb.dos.gov.jo/DataBank/Yearbook_2018/External_Trade_2018.pdf

Dogan,M. (1992). Conceptions of legitimacy. New York: Routledge.

Dorsey, J. (n.d). Jordanian protests: Revisiting the Arab spring and setting a benchmark. International Policy Digest. Available at: https://intpolicydigest.org/2018/06/06/jordanian-protests-revisiting-the-arab-spring-and-setting-a-benchmark/ (accessed 18 March 2021).

Eman, A. (2016). Theoretical Readings in Democracy and Democratic Transformation. The Egyptian Institute for Political and Strategic Studies.

Export.gov. (2018). Jordan – Agriculture sectors. 17 December. Available at: https://www.export.gov/article?id=Jordan-Agricultural-Sectors (24 March 2020).

Fakhoury, E. (2018). Comments made by the MOPIC minister at a workshop “Transition from dependency to dependence on one’s self. Amman, Jordan. Al Quds Center for Political Studies, 28 February.

Fanek, F. (2016). Features of New IMF Programme. Jordan Times, 24 April. Available at: http://jordantimes.com/opinion/fahed-fanek/features-new-imf-programme (27 April 2019).

Groth, A. (2016). A stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. Report doc. 14014, 14 April. Available at: https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=22568&lang=en (accessed 18 March 2021).

Hasan, S. (n.d). Region report Middle East and Northern Africa. United Arab Emirates University. https://www.kas.de/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=61d5964c-3a19-9268-81d2-b05d1bdb5271&groupId=279984

Hudson, M. (1977). Arab politics: The search for legitimacy. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Human Rights Watch. (2019) ICC: Jordan was required to arrest Sudan’s Bashir: Appeals chamber rules states must arrest wanted leaders. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/05/06/icc-jordan-was-required-arrest-sudans-bashir (24 September 2019).

Ianchovichina, E. (2018). Eruptions of popular anger: The economics of the Arab Spring and its aftermath. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. Available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/28961/9781464811524.pdf?sequence=5 (27 September 2019).

IMF. (2016). Jordan: Request for an extended arrangement under the extended fund facility—press release. Staff report and statement by the executive director for Jordan. IMF country report no. 16/295, September. Available at: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2016/12/31/Jordan-Request-for-an-Extended-Arrangement-Under-the-Extended-Fund-Facility-Press-Release-44267 (19 May 2020).

Jerusalem Center for Political Studies. (2018). Statement by the minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Proceedings of a workshop on the transition from dependence to self-reliance, 28 February. Available at: http://www.alqudscenter.org/index.php?l=ar&pg=QUNUSVZJVElFUw==&sub=Q29uZmVyZW5jZXMgYW5kIFNlbWluYXJz&id=2363 (16 February 2020).

Jordan Times. (2018). King entrusts Razzaz to form new gov’t. The Jordan Times, 8 June. Available at: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/king-entrusts-razzaz-form-new-gov%E2%80%99t (18 March 2020).

Jordan Times. (2018). Qatari delegation visits investment commission over $500 million agreement. The Jordan Times, 3 September. Available at: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/qatari-delegation-visits-investment-commission-over-500m-agreement (18 December 2019).

Jordan Times. (2019). Kanakrieh, gulf counterparts follow up on Mecca summit pledges. The Jordan Times, 18 February. Available at: January http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/kanakrieh-gulf-counterparts-follow-mecca-summit-pledges (22 January 2020).

Jordan Times. (2018). Cabinet ready with final version of Income Tax Law: Exemptions increased for households, some industries, while tax on banks hiked. The Jordan Times, 25 September. Available at: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/cabinet-ready-final-version-income-tax-law (15 November 2019).

Kao, K. (2016). How Jordan’s elections revealed enduring weaknesses in its political system. The Washington Post, 3 October. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/10/03/how-jordans-election-revealed-enduring-weaknesses-in-its-political-system/ (21 December 2019).

Lafree, G., and Morris, N. (2012) Does legitimacy matter? Attitudes toward anti-American violence in Egypt, Morocco, and Indonesia. Crime and Delinquency 20(10), 1–31.

MENA-OECD Resilience Task Force Annual Meeting, Jeddah 4 – 5 December 2018

Background Paper for Session 1: Rebuilding a Social Contract Based on Social Dialogue. Background paper drafted by German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) MENA Research Team, (2018)

Ministry of Finance. (2018). Government finance bulletin 20(4). May. Available at: https://mof.gov.jo/Portals/0/MOF_Content_EN/MOF_EN/MOF_EN/General%20Government%20Financial%20Bulletins/2018/English%20PDF%20May%202018.pdf (accessed 22 November 2019).

Ministry of Finance. (2018). Government financial bulletin 20(7). August. Available at: http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home_a/main/archive/trade/2018/EXT_Aug.pdf (accessed 22 November 2019).

Ministry of Finance. (2019). General government finance bulletin 21(3). April. Available at: https://mof.gov.jo/Portals/0/MOF_Content_EN/MOF_EN/MOF_EN/General%20Government%20Financial%20Bulletins/2019/english%20PDF%20April%202019.pdf (accessed 24 November 2019).

Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. (2017). JRP 2017 financial status. Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522c2552e4b0d3c39ccd1e00/t/5a89533aec212d1cb494777c/1518949181969/2017+Financial+Update.pdf (accessed 24 November 2019).

Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. (2019). JRP 2018 financial update. Report. 30 May. Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522c2552e4b0d3c39ccd1e00/t/5cefb5f343a1390001d1277d/1559213556595/FU-JRP-2018.pdf (accessed 24 November 2019).

Muasher, M. (2011). A decade of struggling reform efforts in Jordan: The resilience of the rentier system. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

OECD. (2016). Support to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

In: Supporting Syria and the region, London, DCD/DAC/RD (2016)7/RD. http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=DCD/DAC/RD(2016)%207/RD1&docLanguage=En

Palast, G. (2001). IMF’s four steps to damnation: How crises, failures, and suffering finally drove a presidential advisor to the wrong side of the barricades. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/apr/29/business.mbas (accessed 20 March 2021)

Peck, J. (2004). Geography and public policy: Constructions of neoliberalism.

Progress in Human Geography 28(3): 392–405.

Alyoum, R. (2018). An American writer identifies 3 reasons for the disagreement between Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

https://www.raialyoum.com/index.php/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A8%D9%8A/ (accessed 20 March 2021)

Ranko, A., Von Felbert, L., and Al-Halawani, B. (2018) Jordan strikes protests and government change in Jordan. Country report, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. June. Available at: https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/253252/7_dokument_dok_pdf_52960_1.pdf/9d823fb9-8ee6-27b1-2732-41a2355a8318?version=1.0&t=1539647243412 (accessed 3 January 2020).

Reidel, B. (2018). Saudi Arabia bails out Jordan. Al Monitor, Gulf Pulse. June 2018. Available at: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/06/saudi-arabia-bails-out-jordan-economy-protests.html?utm_campaign=20180612&utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Newsletter (accessed 20 March 2021).

Seeberg, P. (2018). Jordan–the unstable “Island of stability”. Denmark: Videncenter om det moderne Mellemøsten.

Shaikh, A. (2004). The mythology of neoliberalism. London: Pluto Press.

Tagma, H. M., Kalaycioglu, E., & Akcali, E. (2013). ‘Taming’Arab social movements: Exporting neoliberal governmentality. Security Dialogue, 44(5-6), 375-392.‏

The New Arab.(2018). Jordan strikes against proposed income tax law. The New Arab, 30 May. Available at: https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/5/30/jordan-strikes-against-proposed-income-tax-law (accessed 30 March 2021).

The New York Times. (2019). Jordan teachers demanding wage increases clash with police. The New York Times, 5 September. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/09/05/world/middleeast/ap-ml-jordan-teachers-protest.html (accessed 20 March 2021).

Ghazaleh, A. (2019). The indirect impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan’s economy: A quantitative and qualitative approach. UNDP, 5 September. Available at: https://usjkamp.s3.amazonaws.com/prod_uploads/system/resources/attachments/000/000/847/original/UNDP_TAG-Consult_%28Final%29-_%281%29.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJNKAKIDZBGBBOKQA%2F20190906%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20190906T081220Z&X-Amz-Expires=10&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=f4d63ea7ff204dfcc0123d775427a4fa344cb82d9029f4bbb0e8d94bb46ab632 (accessed 24 November 2020).

Venture. (2018). The state of the foreign exchange reserves. Venture, 5 May. Available at: http://www.venturemagazine.me/2018/05/foreign-exchange-reserves/ (accessed 20 March2021).

Vogt, A. (2011). Jordan’s eternal promise of reform. Internationale Politik and Gesellschaft: 61–76. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/ipg/2011-4/08_a_vogt_eng.pdf

Weber, M. (1978) Economy and Society (Vol. 1). Berkeley: University of California Press.

Wiktorowicz, Q. (2000) Civil society as social control: State power in Jordan. Comparative Politics 33(1), 43–61.

World Bank (2018) Jordan Economic Outlook. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/jordan/publication/economic-outlook-april-2018 (accessed 25 November 2019).