The Tenuous Bargain Behind Jordan’s Stability

A small country in a volatile region, Jordan has remained reliably stable since its founding in 1946. While its neighbors have endured persistent wars and internal conflicts, Jordan has absorbed their fleeing refugees. This article explores how the East Bank community, or what some call “the tribes,” has reliably supported the Jordanian monarchy throughout its existence in return for favorable treatment, but also how this clientelistic relationship is now being challenged. Unlike the country’s Palestinian citizens, East Bankers have benefited from employment in the public sector, service in the military, and preference in both elected and appointed political positions. But the continuation of neoliberal reforms has meant an erosion of these benefits, leading to a frayed—yet still enduring—partnership.