Determinants of Jordanian Voters' Participation in the 20th Parliamentary Elections

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.9563

Keywords:

Determinants, Jordanian Voters, 20th Parliamentary Elections.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the determinants influencing Jordanian voters’ participation in the 20th parliamentary elections.

Methods: A descriptive social survey approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire that covered seven key determinants: value-based, inclusionary, material, reinforcement, partisan, empowerment, and benefit-based. The sample comprised 1,032 male and female voters from northern Jordan, and the analysis was conducted within the framework of social exchange theory.

Results: The findings revealed that voters’ decisions to participate in the elections were influenced by value-based determinants, including transparency, fairness, and integrity of the electoral process. Inclusionary determinants such as ensuring citizens’ rights to vote and run for office, along with women’s participation as voters or candidates, also played a significant role. Benefit-based determinants involved providing high utility to citizens and maintaining a legitimate electoral system. Reinforcement determinants were linked to fostering a secure environment for democratic engagement. Partisan determinants reflected the role of party identity in voter training, while empowerment determinants focused on supporting marginalized women and qualified candidates. Lastly, material determinants related to electoral demands for sponsorship, public jobs, and future benefits also had an impact.

Conclusions: To enhance voter participation, parliamentary elections must prioritize transparency, credibility, and fairness. Creating a secure democratic environment that guarantees the right to vote and run for office, supports party-based participation, and empowers women and marginalized groups is essential for fostering broader electoral engagement.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Barari, H. (2013). The Limits of Political Reform in Jordan. International Policy Analysis, 2-9.

Bauer, P. (2018). Unemployment, Trust in Government, and Satisfaction with Democracy: An Empirical Investigation. SOCIUS: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 4, 1– 14.

Blau, P. (1994). Structural Contexts of Opportunities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Blau, P. (1964). Exchange and Power in Social Life. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Braun, D & Hutter, S. (2016). Political Trust, Extra Representational Participation and the Openness of Political Systems, International Political Science Review, 37(2) 151– 165. DOI: 10.1177/0192512114559108

Burke P. (1997). An Identity Model for Network Exchange. American Sociological Review, 62, 134-150.

Canache, D. (2014). Political Trust and Polarization in the Post Chavista Venezuela, Latin American and Caribbean Center, School of International and Public Affairs, Miami, 1- 49, Accessed from http://lacc.fiu.edu.

Chernykh, S. (2014). When Do Political Parties Protest Election Results? Comparative Political Studies, 47(10) 1359–1383.

Coleman, J. (1972). Systems of Social Exchange. Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 2, 145-63.

Coleman, J. (1986). Individual Interests and Collective Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Coleman, J. (1990). Foundations of Social Theory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Emerson R. (1969). Operant Psychology and Exchange Theory. In Burgess. R & Bushell. D (Eds), Behavioral Sociology. New York: Columbia University Press.

Emerson, R. (1976). Social Exchange Theory. Annual Review of Sociology, 2, 335-262.

Garzia, D. (2023). The Italian parliamentary election of 2022: the populist radical right takes charge. West European Politics, 46(5), 1038–1048.

Gershtenson, J., Ladewig, J & Plane, D. (2003). Political Trust and the Health of Democracy in the United States, Rethinking Traditional Measures and Interpretations, Revista Mexicana de Análisis Político Administración Pública. Universidad de Guanajuato, 2 (1), 111-129.

Holsteyn J. M., & Irwin G A. (2021). The Dutch Parliamentary elections of March 2021. Parliamentary elections of March 2021. West European Politics, 45 (7), 1493-1505.

Homans G C. (1958). Social behavior as exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 63(6), 597–606.

Homans G. (1961). Social Behavior. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World.

Homans, C. (1962). Sentiments and Activates. New York: Free Press.

Homans, G. (1950). The Human Group. Harcourt Press, Jovanovich.

Huneidi, L. (2014). The Values, Beliefs, and Attitudes of Elites in Jordan Towards Political, Social, and Economic Development.Portland State University, Spring, (6-3), 1- 264

Identity center. (2019). Policy paper: bridging divides between political and the Jordanian people, Accessed from http://www.identity-center.org

Itani, F. (2013). Stability through Change: Toward a New Political Economy in Jordan, The Atlantic Council of the United States, 2-6.

Jordan strategy forum. (2018). Social capital in Jordan: what is the level of trust in our institutions and why? Amman, 1-24.

Knodt, M. L., & Stoiber. M. (2015). European Elections in Germany: Legitimacy for the European Union? German Politics, 24(1), 99–118.

Krivonosova, I. (2022). The Forgotten Election Administrator of Internet Voting: Lessons from Estonia. Policy Studies, 43(6), 1254–1276.

Levi, M., & Stoker, L. (2000). Political Trust and Trust Worthiness, Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci, 3, 475– 507.

Lust-Okar Ellen, M. (2001). The Decline of Jordanian Political Parti Es: Myth or Reality? Int. J. Middle East Stud. 33, 545–569.

Lysek, J., Pánek, J., & Lebeda, T. (2021). Who are the voters and where are they? Using spatial statistics to analyses voting patterns in the parliamentary elections of the Czech Republic. Journal of Maps, 17(1), 3–33.

Mathisen, I. (2013). The (Lack of a) Jordanian Spring: A Case Study Analysis of the Electoral Reform and Regime Stability in Jordan. Master thesis in Political Science Department of Political Science, University of Oslo.

Molm, L. (1990). Structure, Action, and Outcomes: The Dynamics of Power in Social Exchange. American Sociological Review, 55, 427-47.

Molm, L. (1991). Affect and Social Exchange: Satisfaction in Power-Dependence Relations. American Sociological Review, 56, 475-93.

Molm, L., Peterson, G., & Takahashi, N. (2003). In the Eye of the Beholder: Procedural Justice in Social Exchange. American Sociological Review, 68, 128-152.

Nahar, G. (2012). The Impact of Political Parties on the 2007 Jordanian Parliamentary Elections. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(16), 121-133.

Ritzer, G. (1992). Contemporary sociological theory. (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Scheidegger, R., & Staerkle, C. (2011). Political Trust and Distrust in Switzerland: A Normative Analysis. Swiss Political Science Review, 17(2), 164–187

Schmitt, H., & Toygür, I. (2016). European Parliament Elections of May 2014: Driven by National Politics or EU Policy Making? Politics and Governance, 4(1), 167-181

Semenova Andrey, Lobanovab Olesya and Zavadskayaa Margarita. (2016). When do political parties join protests? A comparative analysis of party involvement in “for fair elections” movement. East European Politics, 32(1), 81–104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2015.1121870

Silagadze, N., Christensen, H S., Sirén, R., & Grönlund, K. (2023). Perceptions of Inequality and Political Participation: The Moderating Role of Ideology. Political Studies Review, 21(2) 285– 305

Spierings, N. (2017). Trust and Tolerance across the Middle East and North Africa: A Comparative Perspective on the Impact of the Arab Uprisings. Politics and Governance, 5(2), 4–15.

Syaiful, R., & Biky, U. M. (2022). Single Candidates Against the Empty Box; On Regional Head Elections 2020 In Indonesia. Journal Wacana Politik, 7(2), 179-186.

Ukase, P.I. (2016). Political Parties and Election/Campaign Financing in Nigeria: Interrogating the 2015 General Elections. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: Political Science, 16(4).

Wauters, B., & Kern, A. (2021). Does It Pay Off? The Effects of Party Leadership Elections on Parties’ Trustworthiness and Appeal to Voters. Political Studies, 69(4), 881–899.

Zulianello, M., & Larsen, E. G. (2021). Populist Parties in European Parliament Elections: A New Dataset on Left, Right and Valence Populism from 1979 to 2019. Electoral Studies, 71, 1-30.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-15

How to Cite

Al-Azzam, A. B. (2026). Determinants of Jordanian Voters’ Participation in the 20th Parliamentary Elections. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 53(6), 9563. https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.9563

Issue

Section

Sociology , Social Work
Received 2024-11-03
Accepted 2025-01-14
Published 2026-01-15

Most read articles by the same author(s)