The determinants of Jordan's stability case study: The arab spring (2011–2019) and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Why was Jordan able to survive the Arab Spring revolutions and the COVID-19 pandemic despite lacking financial capabilities compared to other monarchies? Based on the political system and a comparative case study approach, this article argues that during the Arab Spring, the absence of internal pressure for change and the presence of internal and external support led Jordan's state practice to change into a balanced approach of both authoritarianism and revolution to sustain stability. However, in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Jordan faced a more imminent economic and health threat, coupled with a change in the positions of its external allies. The findings confirm that, in both cases, Jordan faced critical internal and external threats. During the Arab Spring, international assistance supported Jordan. However, during COVID-19, a global pandemic and changing international positions, Jordan did not receive international assistance. Consequently, the Jordanian monarchy had to control the political system through authoritarian policies. Therefore, in a changing environment with shifting international positions, the more the threat is imminent to Jordan's stability, the more Jordan's internal inherited elements sustain its stability.