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JORDAN: BEYOND THE ROYAL RUMBLES
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Compared to its turbulent neighbours like Iraq, Syria and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan is generally viewed as a pocket of calm in a volatile environment and a reliable partner in the fight against extremist groups. Over the past decades, the Hashemite Kingdom has indeed been spared from much of the political upheaval that affected other capitals in the Middle East. Last month, this solid image was interrupted by an alleged attempted coup against King Abdallah II, in power since 1999. The Biden administration, the EU and Amman’s key international partners quickly supported the king in the spirit of regional stability, which Jordan still figures as an essential component. Nevertheless, the public unveiling of the Jordanian royal rift also shed light on the underlying structural weaknesses and vulnerabilities, not only within the ruling family. Today, substantial socio-economic woes harm this natural resource-scarce country, h