Jordan: The need for ‘horizontal changes’

As Israel’s legislative elections approach in a few weeks, American activity in the region is increasing, particularly towards regional settlement. This can be seen with the visit from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Israel this week, which many are suggesting will boost the electoral chances of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party.

Meanwhile, there are shifts occurring amongst other key parties in any settlement agreement. In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has asked Mohammad Shtayyeh to form a new government as prime minister. This could represent a new era in Palestinian leadership, as this step might show a tendency to having a more political and less technocratic prime minister, yet Shtayyeh is not a traditional Fateh fighter, but is from the business community and is a senior Fateh official in the West Bank.

Jordan, another key country for regional settlement, should also become active, with His Majesty King Abdullah recently travelling to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump’s Middle East team. King Abdullah’s visit to Washington comes as many are saying that Jordan’s problems are not limited to economics, as there are worrying symptoms developing that require immediate intervention.

There is also a growing consensus that Jordan’s institutions require horizontal change in order to make the changes that will reinvigorate the state and provide hope for a better future amongst the population. The transformation must come from within in order to avoid any forced change from protesters, who have so far been unable to produce concrete actions.

The changes required must also address the mushrooming of power that has increasingly been centralised and behind the veil. Jordan’s institutions must be strengthened and subject to accountability and transparency, which will also improve the perceptions of the executive and the legislature.

Across the region, Jordan’s allies and supporters are commenting that the current policy and trajectory is backing the country into a corner, from which it is increasingly difficult to remove itself. Many advise that the path forward is a balance of strategic pragmatism without falling into the trap of false populism.

Jordan must develop workable policies in order to navigate regional settlement and ensure positive outcomes for itself and its people. Jordan needs pragmatic positions on the issue of Jerusalem, threats to Jordanian merchants with ties with Damascus and its relations with Saudi Arabia.

While the region awaits the results of the Israeli elections, preparations have begun for the next phase across the region. The opportunity is there for countries to undertake reforms to enhance internal stability, while also reviewing regional policies and identifying the chance for advantage, or at least the realpolitik of avoiding negative outcomes.