Jordan

Reviews / Votes

An engagingly written, deeply informed and sharply observed study of the politics of Jordan-from the inner workings of the monarchy and security services and the youth activists on the streets which corrects a wide range of myths and false assumptions about the Kingdom. This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive survey of Jordanian politics, and an immediate must read for anyone interested in the real politics of today's Middle East. * Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science, The George Washington University * Yom has written a masterful account of Jordan's political history, richly informed by decades of fieldwork and a keen appreciation for the country's complexities and nuances. Wonderfully accessible yet deeply attuned to the questions that Jordan's experience raises for scholars of Middle East politics, comparative politics, and international relations, Yom's volume will stand as an essential text for a wide range of audiences. * Steven Heydemann, Janet W. Ketcham 1953 Professor of Middle East Studies, Smith College * In this book, Yom manages to take apart a series of myths and tropes regarding Jordan-and there are many. Yom shows both what Jordan is and what it is not. This is a well-written, accessible, and excellent analysis of Jordan and its politics, providing a masterful framework for truly understanding state, society, and political life in a kingdom that is too often misunderstood. * Curtis Ryan, Appalachian State University * Sean Yom provides a masterful introduction to Jordan that is accessible to new readers while also providing a state-of-the field analysis of political science arguments about Jordan. Rich in empirical detail, each chapter unfolds around Yom's expertise without being pretentious or plodding. Highly recommended for newcomers as well as for experts looking for a single volume that gracefully covers tremendous ground. * Jillian Schwedler, Professor of Political Science, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, The City University of New York * The book offers an interdisciplinary analysis of Jordan's political, social, and economic structures from a broad perspective. Given Jordan's strategic role in regional politics and its unique system, which challenges conventional theories of the state, the book serves as a valuable resource for a broad audience seeking to understand the region. * Abdulgani Bozkurt, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies * Yom, a political scientist, provides a useful and accessible corrective to one dimensional treatments of Jordan, a small but consequential state. * Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs * Not in some time has a book on Jordan attempted the same breadth of scope as Yom's Jordan... Diplomatic readers seeking an informed answer about Jordan's future stability will find Yom's book an invaluable resource, reminding them that even if Jordan's stability endures, the country is not simple - and it is not in stasis. * Ezra Karmel, DAWN * In his comprehensive and rigorous research into Jordanian politics, Yom (Temple Univ.) provides a clear road map for understanding the tiny Hashemite Kingdom's political forces, historical legacies, authoritarian institutions, popular forces, economic dilemmas, and foreign relations. He provides a concise, yet authoritative, synthesis of Jordan's development from its founding to the present. * K. M. Zaarour, CHOICE *