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The Jordanian Political System and the Islamic Movement: Towards Reorganising the Relationship 24 August 2008
The centre director, Jawad Al-Hamad, began by explaining the significance of the seminar in guiding the government and the Islamic movement to build future relationships which can protect Jordan by achieving national unity and integration of its social and political sectors. This is more important as the region is witnessing challenges affecting Jordan's future and role in the region. Significant challenges are: the peace process; the changes in the political situation in Palestine; the media attempts to present Jordan as an alternative Palestinian homeland; and the increasing dissatisfaction in Jordan because of the deteriorating economic conditions and the challenges facing the democratic process and individual freedom. He added that the history of Jordan indicates that the Islamic movement has been a fundamental element of political stability in the kingdom. The government's approach – which looked tactical – of opening channels of dialogue and reassessing the pending issues with the Islamic movement makes this seminar worthwhile in these critical circumstances. From the point of view of the Islamic movement, the participants argued that the relationship has historically been that of co-existence or even cooperation in some serious cases. Yet, it has not reached the level of a coalition or participation in leading the country and political decision-making and sometimes saw tension and lack of trust. Dr Nabeel Al-Kofahi from the Islamic movement voiced his concerns that the aim of maintaining the size of the movement may stop its expansion and progress, bearing in mind that no major breakthroughs have taken place on the political issues. On the other hand, Mr Jaraj Shalhoub expressed understanding of the current openness as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship in the future. Therefore, both the Islamic movement and the Jordanian government should make use of current conditions to review the nature of their relationship. Mr Hamza Mansour said that the Islamic movement has no preconditions as it deeply feels responsibility to make progress. The former chairman of the Jordanian Agricultural Engineers' Association, Abdul-Hadi Al-Falahat, considered it worth re-balancing Jordanian policy, and suggested measures. Mr Jamal At-Tahat – a former researcher at the Strategic Studies Centre/ National Defense College – argued that there is not one agreed-upon Jordanian national security theory to be used as a reference to shape the relationship between the system and the Islamic movement. He added that the system can predict the movement's behaviour and, thus, the correct response. He added that the movement's ideal picture, according to the system, was that of the seventies. Mr Isam Al-Malkawi, a researcher at the National Defense College, disagreed with Mr At-Tahat, stating that there is a Jordanian security theory and that Jordan participates in dialogue. However, the Islamic movement has not been given the opportunity to prove its vision of democracy, bearing in mind the siege on Hamas in Palestine. In his turn, Dr Khaled Obeidat believed that the relationship between the system and the Muslim Brotherhood has always been friendly, but the international war on terror has spoiled it since 2001. Dr Ahmed Al-Khalaila, the advisor of the former Jordanian Crown Prince, said that the conditions in the Jordanian state and regional and international changes have led to a momentary alteration in the relationship between the system and Islamic movement, but it is still tactical. Furthermore, there is discrepancy in their points of view, with regard to the Palestinian cause in all its aspects and parties, dealing with the US and its war on 'terror', interior reforms and maintaining national achievements. The state will need the Islamic movement to counter the alternative homeland plans. The participants agreed that the latest international, regional and national changes force Jordanian decision-makers to review and restate their policies in order to maintain Jordan's stability. This is necessary to meet the challenges, such as the new attitude of the US towards the peace settlement in the Middle East; Israel's aggression against the resistance; Hamas' success in maintaining its political, social and security and social successes; and the increasing Jordanian public dissatisfaction in the face of problems related to politics, democracy, economy, etc. It is important to remember that, like any political system in the world, the Jordanian system adopts a flexible strategy to deal with these issues, and benefits from building new relations if it wishes. The participants also agreed that radical changes are not likely, but the readings indicate that some modifications of attitudes are taking place to bring about a state of balance and harmony on the Jordanian political scene. The seminar concluded with a number of scenarios for the future relationship between the Islamic movement and the Jordanian political system. The participants argued that the determinants can be listed as follows: the Islamic movement's continuing flexibility in openness; the two sides' ability to develop and practice mutual trust; their commitment to their agreements; and their ability to arrive at common views on the major international and regional issues as well as numerous national problems, in spite of external pressures. Three likely scenarios emerged from the seminar: - the two sides transform their relationship in an unprecedented development in Jordanian politics - temporary partial understandings on a number of issues and solution of current problems - the failure to arrive at any partial or comprehensive agreement due to conflict of interests or interference by external parties |
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