Analysis: “Jordan’s Fictional Reforms”

An analysis in Foreign Policy Magazine, Sean L. Yom argues that despite the recent cabinet shake up, the new government led by Premier Awn Khasawneh is designed to fail. The reshuffling of the cabinet represents a cosmetic change rather than a real policy shift or a step towards reform after 11 months of opposition protests. Oftentimes, Yom argues, prime ministers are appointed and expected to fail, which “allow the palace to maintain its fictive distance from the political fray by sympathizing with (and, in theory, defusing) popular frustration, while promoting another loyal retainer into the top spot.”

The author contends Khasawneh has been the perfect successor to Marouf Bakhit, whose reputation was marred by scandals, since Khasawneh has followed the palace’s orders in ratifying constitutional amendments as well as other initiatives. The cabinet reshuffling has given the palace time to regroup “as sheer volume of public discontent floored royal insiders this year, and they will use the next several months to rebuild relations with opposition forces.” The monarchy’s old way of preserving the East Banker’s support, through financial means, is yielding high costs. Yom concludes by stating: “For the Jordanian monarchy, maintaining stability depends on whether it can demobilize East Bank dissent while checking traditional opposition forces.”