From the palaces and mosques to the streets and coffee houses, Jordan is gripped by one burning question: how long can this normally placid desert kingdom stand apart from the political revolution sweeping the Arab world?
The question is gaining in urgency. Opposition activists have taken to the streets of Amman and other Jordanian cities since January, but their calls for political reform and an end to corruption have so far gone unanswered. This has sowed frustration, and is now leading some protesters – most notably a new “March 24” youth movement – to escalate their demands.
For the time being, even the most outspoken critics say they want reform, not revolution. The ruling Hashemite dynasty, seen by most Jordanians as an anchor of stability in a country marked by long-running social divisions, remains largely immune from public criticism.
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