Origins of the State

Imperialism and Localism

Why is there a Jordan?

Does it answer to the needs of the local societies, peasants, tribespeople, nationalists and foreign powers?

Salibi-Modern Hist of Jordan, Ch 4

Wilson-King Abdullah, Britain and the Making of Jordan-Ch 3

Robins-Ch 1

• People of Tj were used to the concept of a state through Ottomans
• Largely unregulated activities and laws of semi-nomadic tribes
• Tribes gradually developed a symbiotic relationship with the Ottoman state, whereby they gave up their right to collect security tax from the peasantry, but in turn received payments from the state for assuring pacification of trade and communication routes and indirect benefits from increased trade
• Right after the war, it was assumed that Tj would simply be the southern extension of Damascus’ natural hinterland
• In the Sykes-Picot accord, Tj was to be under the British sphere of influence; at the San Remo conference Tj was assumed to be covered by the jurisdiction of Palestine
• Jordan was stuck in between the Damascus and the conquering al-Saud dynasty in Saudi Arabia-could not be left alone
• Britain tried to establish three administrations, but these soon fragmented along traditional lines

Robins-Ch 2

• 1921: Britain installs Abdullah as the new Amir
• Abdullah held a contempt for the state of Tj from the very beginning
• Britain only insisted that Tj be pacified in order not to become a destabilizing influence on Palestine or French-controlled Syria
• Abdullah was able to prevent invasion of the Saudi expansion by retaining the loyalty of the Bani Sakhr tribes, as well as the help of the British
• 1952:agreement with Saudi Arabia; Britain ha dto make many concessions at the expense of Bedouins
• at first, Britain recruited for the Arab Legion from outside
• by 1926 the Arab Legion had completely pacified the populated and sedentary areas of Tj
• established the Transjordanian Frontier Force (TJFF) to incorporate areas with semi-nomadic tribes and to harden borders
• British officials were appointed to decision-making positions of the state; most government workers were born outside of Tj

Anderson-Chapters 3 and 4

• Ottomans prepared the people of Tj for later state rule
• Meeting between British officials and Tj tribal and merchant leaders in Salt in 1920 and Umm Qais-British decided to keep Tj separate from Palestineand local governments would be created with aid of British advisors; wanted unity with Syria
• This never happened-instead the Britihs established 6 separate governments which failed
• Istiqlalists wanted an Arab emir to rule them and reconquer Syria
• Abdullah’s immediate ambition was to consolidate his hold over Transjordan, so he concentrated first on creating a TRansjordianian, not Pan-Arab, identity
• In 1932, a French-Transjordanian-Syrian team officially demarcated the line between Tj and Syria; in 1952 the Saudi Arabian border was established
• At first, many tribal leaders were resentful and tried to rebel against the state; none of the demands form the Salt and Umm Qais meetings were being met
• Tribes were gradually subdued into the state through repression and co-optation; Abdullah garnered political support from important Transjordanian tribal leaders
• April 1928-Organic Law, recognizing Abdullah as the head of state with hereditary rights and dictated a new government with Executive and Legislative Councils; Abdullah could dismiss appoint and convene the leg council with few restrictions; this led to numerous protests
• Extended infrastructure and built new schools in order to build increased awareness of statehood
• Garnered support of the Bedouin by convincing them to join armed forces (economic downturn and technological progress put the Bedouin in a bad position)
• Land reform program a major cause of Abdullah’s popularity