KING HUSAYN OF JORDAN: TRADITION AND CHANGE IN MODERN MIDDLE EASTERN MONARCHY Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Peck, Brian MacLellan, 1958- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 24/09/2021 13:25:03 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291239 INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. 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Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 1325584 Peck, Brian MacLellan KING HUSAYN OF JORDAN: TRADITION AND CHANGE IN MODERN MIDDLE EASTERN MONARCHY The University of Arizona M.A. 1985 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 KING HUSAYN OF JORDAN: TRADITION AND CHANGE IN MODERN MIDDLE EASTERN MONARCHY By Brian MacLellan Peck A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ORIENTAL STUDIES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the Graduate C allege THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 8 5 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfill­ ment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowl­ edgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: ^ APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: L.'-i 1-^ nfe L. W. ADAMEC ' Date Professor of Oriental Studies TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT iv I. INTRODUCTION . 1 II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 4 Abdullah and Talal: 1921-1953 4 Husayn; 1953-1985 12 III. THE ARMY AND THE THRONE 16 The Army in Jordan: 1921-1985 17 The Zerka Incident and "Black September" .. 21 Army-Throne Relations 25 IV. THE POWERS OF STATE AND THRONE 33 Traditional Political Thought 35 The Constitution and the King 37 Characteristics of Rule in Jordan 40 V. OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MONARCHY 44 Religion and the Throne 44 Royal Marriage 48 Succession in Jordan 50 VI. HUSAYN AS MONARCH 56 VII. MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST 62 VIII. CONCLUSIONS 66 BIBLIOGRAPHY 74 iii ABSTRACT This paper is an examination of the system of monarchy as it exists today in the Middle East, using the example of Jordan. The changes that have occurred in the traditional authoritarian system are explored and evaluated within the context of the monarchy's ability to meet the needs of the modern nation-state. This paper also demonstrates that the reasons behind Jordan's long survival can be linked directly to the monarchical system. Another aspect that is explored is the similarities between the system of monarchy and the other governmental systems of the Middle East. iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The onset of the First World War signaled more than the collapse of Prince Metternich's "Congress Europe". It also marked the beginning of the end for four of the world's great imperial powers, and relegated some of the most historied collectionc of royal regalia to the status of museum pieces. Hand-in-hand with this came the rise of an anti-monarchical movement in the West, led by President Wilson and the United States Congress. This anti-monarchical movement was, however, not new to the United States, but has been a powerful under­ current in its foreign policy since the American Revolu­ tion and its attacks on George III of England. Yet, it has only been since the end of World War I that the idea of the anachronism and obsolescence of monarchy has come to be an eccepted addition to western political thought. Despite this attitude, monarchy continues to exist as a viable entity. To ignore an institution because we see it as obsolete will not make it disappear or negate its influence. Rather our own ignorance will have been magnified and we will be presented with the danger of i 2 being unable to comprehend the developments in a state because we have blinded ourselves to its basic dynamics. This paper is an attempt to understand those dy­ namics as they apply to the state of Jordan. One of the main regions of monarchic survival today lies in the Middle East. This is an area that has one of the longest traditions of organized monarchy in the world, and continues to rely on personal authoritarian rule in both its monarchies and "democracies". Jordan is one of these. Established in 1921, Jordan has survived not only as a nation, but also as a system of government little changed since its founding. This in a region wracked by war, revolution and civil strife. Modern scholars are quick to attribute this success to the quality of leadership in Jordan. Although this factor can not be ignored, it is difficult to imagine that this alone can account for the survival of a state that has spanned a period of more than sixty years and three monarchs. A period that included five major wars in the region, one ruler assassinated, one ruler deposed due to mental health and numerous assassination and coup at­ tempts. This idea of qualitative leadership appears to have been chosen because the only other alternative is to admit that the system of monarchy is a viable and applic­ able system in the modern nation-state. 3 / The understanding of a modern Middle Eastern monarchy is the major purpose of this paper. The Jordanian monarchy being used by example. The basic structure of the monarchy exhibits certain characteristics in the relation­ ship between the throne and the six main elements of army, state, religion, royal marriage, succession and the role of the monarch. Each of these will be examined in relation to traditional practices and theories and its character­ istics as they apply to the Jordanian state. It is imperative that we understand the dynamics of Islamic, or Middle Eastern, monarchy as they also form the underlying dynamics of the other states in the region. In view of this the structure of the Jordanian monarchy will be examined in relation to the other states of the region to show the similarities that exist below the surfaces of Middle Eastern governments. CHAPTER II HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This chapter is given in order to present an overall historical view of Jordan, it is intentionally brief. The main purpose is to set the paper in its proper historical perspective and present to the reader a chronological reference point for the events which will be discussed in relation to the topic. The chapter is divided into two sections. The first deals with that period prior to King Husayn's succession. The second is a brief summary of events since his succession. This second section deals only briefly with the events as those of importcince to the discussion will be covered in greater detail as they apply. Abdullah and Talal;1921-1953 In 1921 the state of Transjordan came into exis­ tence. Its founding was the result of one man, Abdullah bin Husayn, the son of Sharif Husayn of Makka. The year before Faysal, Abdullah's younger brother, was forced off the throne of Syria by the French.