A History of Jordan / Philip Robins.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Robins, Philip.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jordan--History--20th century.

Jordan.

History.

Physical Description:

xvii, 243 pages : illustrations, 1 map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Summary:

Though a small state, Jordan has frequently found itself at the centre of conflict and crisis in the modern Middle East. It has been a central protagonist in the wars of the region, notably the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars, and has also been at the forefront of peace-making, signing a separate peace with Israel in 1994. Philip Robins' survey of Jordan's political history begins in the early 1920s, continues through the years of the British mandate, and traces events over the next half century to the present day. Throughout the latter period the country's fortunes were closely identified with its head of state, King Hussein, until his death in 1999. In the early days, as the author testifies, his prospects were often regarded as grim. However, both King and country survived a variety of existential challenges, from assassination attempts and internal subversion to a civil war with the Palestine Liberation Organisation. In the 1970s and 1980s the country emerged as an apparently stable and prosperous state. However, King Hussein's death, the succession of his son, Abdullah II, and the recent upheavals in the region, have plunged the country back into uncertainty. This is an incisive account, compellingly told, about one of the most important countries in the Middle East.

Contents:

1 On the Edge of Empire 5

Transjordan and its 'dark ages' 6

The Ottoman state and its impact 8

The post-First World War limbo 12

2 Founding State and Regime 16

Abdullah's consolation prize 17

The Sharifian moment 20

Regime politics: incorporating social groups 23

Britain and the fate of Transjordan 27

Towards administrative consolidation 31

3 The Long Road to Independence 35

Creating political institutions 36

Incorporating the tribal periphery 40

Political affairs in the Emirate 44

Risks and opportunities in the region 47

The Second World War 52

Independence, at last 56

4 Loss of Innocence 59

The onset of strife 60

A Hashemite dream 64

Unity across the Jordan 70

The death of a king 74

5 The Roaring Fifties 79

A second succession 80

New social realities 82

The accession of Hussein 87

The Baghdad Pact and the ousting of Glubb 91

The radical challenge from within 94

A coup from the palace 99

Rebuilding stability 102

6 The Road to Disaster 105

Wasfi al-Tall and the rest 106

The drive for economic development 111

Conflicts across the region 114

The awakening of Palestinian nationalism 117

The 1967 war 120

Managing the aftermath 124

Bloody conflict within 129

7 Illusions of Progress 133

Two peoples, one state 134

The Road to Rabat 136

The October war 140

Oil wealth without oil 141

The temptation of Camp David 146

Hussein and Saddam: the odd couple 149

Limited domestic reform 154

Process, but no peace 158

West Bank disengagement 163

8 Hussein's Choices 165

While Jordan burns 166

Liberalisation for austerity 170

The National Charter 174

The Iraq-Kuwait crisis 176

The 'break' with Iraq 180

Structural adjustment 181

Hussein's gamble on peace 184

Democratisation on the backburner 187

Uphill struggle for normalisation 190

A messy succession 193

9 Abdullah's First Steps 198.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 224-232) and index.

ISBN:

0521591171

0521598958

OCLC:

54079507