Jordan: Moving To Inclusiveness Without Democracy
Jordan has never been a democracy. It is not a democracy. It may never be a democracy. But it is inching its way to a more inclusive government and economy. And that may be the real lesson Jordan can teach us: democracy is not a prerequisite for inclusiveness.
The Change
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy under the rule of King Abdullah II since 1999. Elections are held, but the palace appoints governments and retains wide powers; opposition activity and civic freedoms are limited.
Since the 2010s, economic pressure has been pushing Jordan’s movement forward. These pressures include a large refugee influx from Syria, high youth unemployment, and rising living costs. The problems that eroded trust in day-to-day governance and bring about change, one way or another.
Fortunately, Jordan chose gradual, top-down reform before violent regime change was necessary. The nation chose a political modernization program, bringing Jordan closer to inclusivity and prosperity. Political laws, including a new elections law in 2022 and a parties law to strengthen party-based competition and expand youth and women’s participation, are among the positive changes King Abdullah is making.
The first parliamentary vote under the new law took place in September 2024. In parallel, the government pursued IMF-backed economic reforms and secured World Bank financing for education, health, and social protection aimed at making services work better and widening opportunity. Together, these steps explain why even modest improvements in the rule of law and services to the people are meaningful for ordinary Jordanians. They reflect a real, if incremental, shift from relationship-based governance toward clearer rules and more predictable institutions.
The Course Correction
Jordan didn’t wake up one morning and decide to reform. It adjusted course cautiously and step by step. There was no revolution, no regime change. But the pressures of the past decade, economic shocks, refugee inflows, and youth frustration made doing nothing impossible.
So the country began a deliberate rebuild. In 2025, the International Monetary Fund gave Jordan high marks for discipline. Every performance target and structural reform was met. The IMF’s board approved another US$134 million, not as a bailout, but as recognition that Jordan was following through on its commitments.
Rule of law, though slow to improve, also ticked upward. In the World Justice Project’s 2024 Index, Jordan ranked 61st of 142 countries, a modest climb that signaled steady forward motion.
Then came a bigger bet on people. On July 1, 2024, the World Bank approved US$700 million for two programs: MASAR, to equip youth with practical job skills, and the Jordan Human Capital Program, to strengthen education, healthcare, and social protection. Together, they marked a shift from managing poverty to building opportunity.
Behind these steps stood a broader plan, the Economic Modernization Vision and the Public Sector Modernization Roadmap. Both aim to make government work better through faster permits, less red tape, more digital services, and a public sector judged by performance, not patronage.
None of this is flashy. It doesn’t replace the monarchy or rewrite the constitution. But it does make government predictable, services reliable, and opportunities just a bit wider for ordinary Jordanians. Step by step, Jordan is proving that progress doesn’t require upheaval, only persistence.
Balance and Caveats
Jordan’s reforms are real, but they are just beginning. Power is still concentrated with a ruling elite, and political speech and civic freedom are not free.
These early changes in the rule of law are encouraging, but minimal and not yet permanent. Gains in rankings or funding approvals will mean little if they don’t show up as better schools, more jobs, or stronger social services. The real test lies ahead: will the IMF and World Bank funds become roads, classrooms, and paychecks, or disappear into the bank accounts of the rulers?
Cultural Dimensions That Help Explain the Path
Jordan’s path toward inclusion is shaped as much by culture as by policy.
For decades, most official matters in Jordan were handled through personal connections. A business permit was issued or not, based on who you knew at the ministry. A spot at the university, depending on family connections. These practices weren’t corruption in the criminal sense; they were simply how things got done in a society built on relationships and trust. But that same system left many people outside the circle.
The new reforms are changing that. Government offices are moving paperwork online, which directly reduces corruption and dependence on connections. What used to depend on a phone call to a friend in the ministry now depends on a checklist that must be completed by everyone. This shift from particularism to universalism, from personal discretion to uniform rules, means more people can access the system. It is a more inclusive system.
Jordan is also learning to balance its high-context culture, where meaning often depends on personal understanding, with directness and clarity. Deadlines, forms, and fees are clearly defined; citizens no longer need to interpret hidden signals or rely on someone inside to explain how things “really” work. The result is more transparency, less guessing, and fewer surprises. It’s also a big cultural shift.
In a society that naturally respects hierarchy, reforms are finding a way to keep that order while building stronger institutions. By embedding decisions in written procedures and digital systems, outcomes depend less on personal rank and more on documented process. A mid-level employee following the rulebook now has as much authority to approve a license as a senior official once did.
These are the changes needed for inclusivity, but they are also changes in culture, and culture does not change quickly.
Hornby’s Archetypes — How Leadership Style Supports Reform
Jordan’s leadership approach reflects a mix of archetypes that fit both its culture and circumstances.
King Abdullah’s Blue / Guardian instincts shape the foundation, emphasizing stability, order, and protection of the public good above political experimentation. In a country surrounded by regional conflict, this steadiness builds trust and confidence.
At the same time, West / Sage traits guide the method. The government leans on technocrats, data, and structured plans rather than slogans. Each reform, the IMF program, the modernization roadmaps, and the digital service rollout follow measurable targets and international benchmarks. It’s leadership through expertise, not charisma.
Finally, East / Communicator traits appear in the way change is coordinated. Reforms require cooperation across ministries, donors, and agencies that rarely move in sync. The ability to negotiate, persuade, and maintain consensus keeps the process moving forward without confrontation.
Together, these traits create a leadership style that fits Jordan: cautious, pragmatic, and credibility-driven. It isn’t revolutionary, but it works, steady enough to reassure, flexible enough to adapt, and deliberate enough to turn slow steps into lasting change.
Bottom line
Jordan isn’t transforming its political system; it’s transforming how that system serves its people. The government is meeting IMF goals, improving its rule-of-law standing, and directing major investments into education, health, and youth employment. These are baby step changes, but in a country where influence once outweighed rules, they represent a deep cultural change, fairness replacing favoritism.
And there is a bigger lesson: democracy isn’t the only path to inclusion. Jordan remains a monarchy with tight political controls, yet it’s moving toward inclusive institutions that deliver more predictably and serve more people. While the United States spirals into an extractive dictatorship, countries like Jordan remind us that the US is just one of some 200 countries, and many of those countries are moving forward, laying foundations today for a better tomorrow.
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