The Attitudes of Students in Jordanian Universities toward Participation in Ideological Political Parties in Jordan

Objectives: This study examines the attitudes of students in Jordanian universities toward participation in ideological political parties in Jordan. It aims to determine whether various university study variables, such as gender, specialization, and level, impact participation trends. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover the discrepancy between the ideological parties and university students, identify the primary reasons for non-participation in political life, and determine the factors leading to increased participation. Methods: The study employed an exploratory, descriptive, and analytical research approach, utilizing a social survey methodology. It focused on the perceptions and opinions of Jordanian university students regarding ideological parties. The study sample consisted of randomly selected undergraduate students (536 in total) from Jordanian universities. Results: The results indicate that female participation in ideological political parties is very limited compared to male participation. Furthermore, the study finds no significant differences in all statistical domains when considering specialization and level variables. The results also highlight that reasons contributing to non-participation include the fear of potential accountability and danger associated with party affiliation, the perception of parties as more personal than public, the lack of focus on youth issues in party content, the need of organizational experiences, and the government's lack of encouragement in joining political parties. Conclusions: Based on the aforementioned results, the study recommends increasing comprehensive awareness programs about the role of parties in political life and democratic practice. There is a need to stimulate party activities, ensuring the freedom to participate and join such activities. Furthermore, providing a clear definition of the roles and tasks of political parties, as well as their operational methods, is crucial.