The Impact of Economic Factors on Democratization: Jordan Case

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the role of economy in Jordan’s political life with a specific focus on the transition towards democratization. Although the general trend towards a democratic political system in Jordan has been a political decision and initiated, by HM King Abdulla when he expressed on different occasions his intentions of making Jordan a democratic country. Jordan has embarked on an aggressive economic liberalization program under His Majesty King Abdullah II in an effort to stimulate the economy and raise the standard of living. Thus this research reviews relevant literature that has dealt with this topic. Recently, the democratic transformation has affected the economic policies adopted by the government as a result of astronomical rise of oil and food prices in 2007. Thus the researcher concludes that economic situation in Jordan has had an impact on the transition of democracy. Jordan economic situation in 1989 and the preceding years sets a good example of the impact of economy on the transition of democracy which constitutes one of the most important factors that plays a major role in this context .