Activism in Jordan

Description

In Jordan, between censorship, repression and election rigging, political activism is limited – despite the democratic opening glimpsed in 1989. In this important new book, Pénélope Larzillière charts the path of longstanding activists in Jordan and shows how opposition movements there have shifted from the underground to a heavily controlled public sphere. Activists discuss their motivation and commitment and the consequences their activism has had throughout their lives. Not only do these accounts highlight the general conditions for political activism in a repressive regime, they also unpack the meaning individuals attach to their political journey and chosen ideology, whether communist, nationalist, Islamist or otherwise. Cover Halftitle About the author Title page Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Arenas of activism Ideology and commitment 1. The Jordanian Regime The Palestinian question The limits of the 1989 open policy Towards authoritarian liberalism The Muslim Brotherhood: a co-opted opposition? The repercussions of the Syrian crisis 2. Becoming an Activist A sense of injustice: poverty and the Palestinian cause Mentors The political currents and their major figures Opportunities for friendship, leisure activities and emancipation 3. The Student Experience Local hegemonies and waves of membership Arab universities, curricula and armed struggle Crackdowns on the communists, and internal divisions Islamist mobilization in universities Social leaders 4. Activism, a Way of Life Communist marginality The Islamist foothold Work and activism 5. Repression and Dissidence Nationalists and communists: impossible and necessary underground activity Authoritarian elections Repression and legitimacy 6. Professional Activism as an Alternative An alternative political arena The professions mobilize for the Palestinian cause A limited space Union engagement 7. New Forms of Mobilization Expert activism and project-oriented mobilization Activist career changes: old activists, new activism? The Arab Spring mobilizations of 2011 and 2012: issues and limits The end of ideologies? Rise and decline of “grand narratives” 8. Disillusioned Islamists Youssef: a post-Islamist trajectory Asma: politics through satire and reform through education Ibrahim: from Islamism to the left Conclusion Methodological Appendix Questions of position Questions of methodology Sociodemographic data on the activists interviewed Notes Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Conclusion Methodological Appendix Bibliography Index