Jordan stands at a defining moment. Political reforms have been announced, debated, and partially implemented, but never fully realized. The country is caught between ambition and inertia, between promising change and the forces resisting it. If 2025 is to be a year of transformation, then Jordan must do what it has long avoided: commit.
A Reform Vision That Started Strong
King Abdullah’s efforts to modernize Jordan’s political landscape have been nothing short of monumental. Recognizing the urgent need for a more dynamic and representative political system, he spearheaded a series of reforms that culminated in the formation of the Royal Committee for Political Modernization. This initiative rightfully earned the credit for putting forward the Election Law and the Political Party Law, two groundbreaking legislative frameworks that, for the first time in decades, created a clear pathway for political parties to enter parliament based on structured, issue-driven competition. Equally important, these reforms aimed to empower underrepresented groups- particularly youth and women- by guaranteeing their inclusion in the political process. On paper, Jordan had taken a significant step forward: The kingdom had laid the legal foundation for a truly competitive political landscape.
But laws alone do not create reform.
The Failure to Capitalize on Legislative Reform
Despite this historic milestone, Jordan finds itself trapped in an outdated political mindset, where personal ambition still outweighs national progress. Political parties remain weak, fragmented, and personality-driven rather than policy-driven. The system still operates on patronage rather than performance. Even the institutions that oversee the little aspects within political parties seem to have dropped the ball on the bigger picture, the more long-term picture.
This claim is easily proved by taking a quick glance at the most recent parliamentary election results: It wasn’t about who secured the most votes; it was about where those votes came from. When cross-referenced with demographics, the numbers reveal a clear message: the Jordanian people have lost faith in the perpetuity of the political arena. Instead of returning the same familiar faces to power, they decided to gamble on the unknown. And really, can anyone fault them for that?
For reform to succeed, Jordan must break free from this cycle. Political parties must start crafting real solutions for national challenges: mainly investments, labor market reform, a diminishing middle class, water security, and energy storage. Yet today, only one party even comes close to having a comprehensive vision- though even that party has repeatedly squandered its opportunities with ideological rigidity and internal power struggles. Jordan does not need dozens of ineffective parties. It needs a handful of strong, policy-focused movements.
With a new government in place, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. He has built a reputation as a disciplined leader, but reputation alone is not enough- results are what matter. 2025 must be the year Jordan moves from promises to action. The government must provide the private sector with the right environment to invest, expand, and create jobs. Jordan’s influential business networks, both at home and abroad, are an untapped resource. It is the government’s job to make Jordan an attractive investment destination instead of a bureaucratic maze.
A Moment of Decision
Jordan’s greatest strength is its people. The average Jordanian is educated, hardworking, and resourceful. Yet time and time again, certain politicians continue to blame “the people” for the country’s struggles, when in reality, the failures lie within the system- whether in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches. Jordanians are not the problem. Weak governance is. If the government is serious about reform, it does not need five years to prove itself. One year of decisive action- recovering stolen wealth, enforcing tax laws, removing bureaucratic barriers- can send a clear message: Jordan is serious about its future. Will Jordan keep building half-bridges, or will it finally cross over to the other side?
Montaser AlTawil, Attorney and entrepreneur working in Jordan and the United States with a background in Law, Political Science and Islamic Studies.
Jordan stands at a defining moment. Political reforms have been announced, debated, and partially implemented, but never fully realized. The country is caught between ambition and inertia, between promising change and the forces resisting it. If 2025 is to be a year of transformation, then Jordan must do what it has long avoided: commit.
A Reform Vision That Started Strong
King Abdullah’s efforts to modernize Jordan’s political landscape have been nothing short of monumental. Recognizing the urgent need for a more dynamic and representative political system, he spearheaded a series of reforms that culminated in the formation of the Royal Committee for Political Modernization. This initiative rightfully earned the credit for putting forward the Election Law and the Political Party Law, two groundbreaking legislative frameworks that, for the first time in decades, created a clear pathway for political parties to enter parliament based on structured, issue-driven competition. Equally important, these reforms aimed to empower underrepresented groups- particularly youth and women- by guaranteeing their inclusion in the political process. On paper, Jordan had taken a significant step forward: The kingdom had laid the legal foundation for a truly competitive political landscape.
But laws alone do not create reform.
The Failure to Capitalize on Legislative Reform
Despite this historic milestone, Jordan finds itself trapped in an outdated political mindset, where personal ambition still outweighs national progress. Political parties remain weak, fragmented, and personality-driven rather than policy-driven. The system still operates on patronage rather than performance. Even the institutions that oversee the little aspects within political parties seem to have dropped the ball on the bigger picture, the more long-term picture.
This claim is easily proved by taking a quick glance at the most recent parliamentary election results: It wasn’t about who secured the most votes; it was about where those votes came from. When cross-referenced with demographics, the numbers reveal a clear message: the Jordanian people have lost faith in the perpetuity of the political arena. Instead of returning the same familiar faces to power, they decided to gamble on the unknown. And really, can anyone fault them for that?
For reform to succeed, Jordan must break free from this cycle. Political parties must start crafting real solutions for national challenges: mainly investments, labor market reform, a diminishing middle class, water security, and energy storage. Yet today, only one party even comes close to having a comprehensive vision- though even that party has repeatedly squandered its opportunities with ideological rigidity and internal power struggles. Jordan does not need dozens of ineffective parties. It needs a handful of strong, policy-focused movements.
With a new government in place, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. He has built a reputation as a disciplined leader, but reputation alone is not enough- results are what matter. 2025 must be the year Jordan moves from promises to action. The government must provide the private sector with the right environment to invest, expand, and create jobs. Jordan’s influential business networks, both at home and abroad, are an untapped resource. It is the government’s job to make Jordan an attractive investment destination instead of a bureaucratic maze.
A Moment of Decision
Jordan’s greatest strength is its people. The average Jordanian is educated, hardworking, and resourceful. Yet time and time again, certain politicians continue to blame “the people” for the country’s struggles, when in reality, the failures lie within the system- whether in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches. Jordanians are not the problem. Weak governance is. If the government is serious about reform, it does not need five years to prove itself. One year of decisive action- recovering stolen wealth, enforcing tax laws, removing bureaucratic barriers- can send a clear message: Jordan is serious about its future. Will Jordan keep building half-bridges, or will it finally cross over to the other side?
Montaser AlTawil, Attorney and entrepreneur working in Jordan and the United States with a background in Law, Political Science and Islamic Studies.
Jordan stands at a defining moment. Political reforms have been announced, debated, and partially implemented, but never fully realized. The country is caught between ambition and inertia, between promising change and the forces resisting it. If 2025 is to be a year of transformation, then Jordan must do what it has long avoided: commit.
A Reform Vision That Started Strong
King Abdullah’s efforts to modernize Jordan’s political landscape have been nothing short of monumental. Recognizing the urgent need for a more dynamic and representative political system, he spearheaded a series of reforms that culminated in the formation of the Royal Committee for Political Modernization. This initiative rightfully earned the credit for putting forward the Election Law and the Political Party Law, two groundbreaking legislative frameworks that, for the first time in decades, created a clear pathway for political parties to enter parliament based on structured, issue-driven competition. Equally important, these reforms aimed to empower underrepresented groups- particularly youth and women- by guaranteeing their inclusion in the political process. On paper, Jordan had taken a significant step forward: The kingdom had laid the legal foundation for a truly competitive political landscape.
But laws alone do not create reform.
The Failure to Capitalize on Legislative Reform
Despite this historic milestone, Jordan finds itself trapped in an outdated political mindset, where personal ambition still outweighs national progress. Political parties remain weak, fragmented, and personality-driven rather than policy-driven. The system still operates on patronage rather than performance. Even the institutions that oversee the little aspects within political parties seem to have dropped the ball on the bigger picture, the more long-term picture.
This claim is easily proved by taking a quick glance at the most recent parliamentary election results: It wasn’t about who secured the most votes; it was about where those votes came from. When cross-referenced with demographics, the numbers reveal a clear message: the Jordanian people have lost faith in the perpetuity of the political arena. Instead of returning the same familiar faces to power, they decided to gamble on the unknown. And really, can anyone fault them for that?
For reform to succeed, Jordan must break free from this cycle. Political parties must start crafting real solutions for national challenges: mainly investments, labor market reform, a diminishing middle class, water security, and energy storage. Yet today, only one party even comes close to having a comprehensive vision- though even that party has repeatedly squandered its opportunities with ideological rigidity and internal power struggles. Jordan does not need dozens of ineffective parties. It needs a handful of strong, policy-focused movements.
With a new government in place, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. He has built a reputation as a disciplined leader, but reputation alone is not enough- results are what matter. 2025 must be the year Jordan moves from promises to action. The government must provide the private sector with the right environment to invest, expand, and create jobs. Jordan’s influential business networks, both at home and abroad, are an untapped resource. It is the government’s job to make Jordan an attractive investment destination instead of a bureaucratic maze.
A Moment of Decision
Jordan’s greatest strength is its people. The average Jordanian is educated, hardworking, and resourceful. Yet time and time again, certain politicians continue to blame “the people” for the country’s struggles, when in reality, the failures lie within the system- whether in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches. Jordanians are not the problem. Weak governance is. If the government is serious about reform, it does not need five years to prove itself. One year of decisive action- recovering stolen wealth, enforcing tax laws, removing bureaucratic barriers- can send a clear message: Jordan is serious about its future. Will Jordan keep building half-bridges, or will it finally cross over to the other side?
Montaser AlTawil, Attorney and entrepreneur working in Jordan and the United States with a background in Law, Political Science and Islamic Studies.
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Jordan’s Half-Built Bridge: The Road to Reform
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Jordan’s Half-Built Bridge: The Road to Reform
Jordan stands at a defining moment. Political reforms have been announced, debated, and partially implemented, but never fully realized. The country is caught between ambition and inertia, between promising change and the forces resisting it. If 2025 is to be a year of transformation, then Jordan must do what it has long avoided: commit.
A Reform Vision That Started Strong
King Abdullah’s efforts to modernize Jordan’s political landscape have been nothing short of monumental. Recognizing the urgent need for a more dynamic and representative political system, he spearheaded a series of reforms that culminated in the formation of the Royal Committee for Political Modernization. This initiative rightfully earned the credit for putting forward the Election Law and the Political Party Law, two groundbreaking legislative frameworks that, for the first time in decades, created a clear pathway for political parties to enter parliament based on structured, issue-driven competition. Equally important, these reforms aimed to empower underrepresented groups- particularly youth and women- by guaranteeing their inclusion in the political process. On paper, Jordan had taken a significant step forward: The kingdom had laid the legal foundation for a truly competitive political landscape.
But laws alone do not create reform.
The Failure to Capitalize on Legislative Reform
Despite this historic milestone, Jordan finds itself trapped in an outdated political mindset, where personal ambition still outweighs national progress. Political parties remain weak, fragmented, and personality-driven rather than policy-driven. The system still operates on patronage rather than performance. Even the institutions that oversee the little aspects within political parties seem to have dropped the ball on the bigger picture, the more long-term picture.
This claim is easily proved by taking a quick glance at the most recent parliamentary election results: It wasn’t about who secured the most votes; it was about where those votes came from. When cross-referenced with demographics, the numbers reveal a clear message: the Jordanian people have lost faith in the perpetuity of the political arena. Instead of returning the same familiar faces to power, they decided to gamble on the unknown. And really, can anyone fault them for that?
For reform to succeed, Jordan must break free from this cycle. Political parties must start crafting real solutions for national challenges: mainly investments, labor market reform, a diminishing middle class, water security, and energy storage. Yet today, only one party even comes close to having a comprehensive vision- though even that party has repeatedly squandered its opportunities with ideological rigidity and internal power struggles. Jordan does not need dozens of ineffective parties. It needs a handful of strong, policy-focused movements.
With a new government in place, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. He has built a reputation as a disciplined leader, but reputation alone is not enough- results are what matter. 2025 must be the year Jordan moves from promises to action. The government must provide the private sector with the right environment to invest, expand, and create jobs. Jordan’s influential business networks, both at home and abroad, are an untapped resource. It is the government’s job to make Jordan an attractive investment destination instead of a bureaucratic maze.
A Moment of Decision
Jordan’s greatest strength is its people. The average Jordanian is educated, hardworking, and resourceful. Yet time and time again, certain politicians continue to blame “the people” for the country’s struggles, when in reality, the failures lie within the system- whether in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches. Jordanians are not the problem. Weak governance is. If the government is serious about reform, it does not need five years to prove itself. One year of decisive action- recovering stolen wealth, enforcing tax laws, removing bureaucratic barriers- can send a clear message: Jordan is serious about its future. Will Jordan keep building half-bridges, or will it finally cross over to the other side?
Montaser AlTawil, Attorney and entrepreneur working in Jordan and the United States with a background in Law, Political Science and Islamic Studies.
comments