The Impact of Political Parties on the 2007 Jordanian Parliamentary Elections
Dr. Ghazi Saleh Nahar

Abstract
Since 1989, Jordan has made remarkable progress towards establishing the basics of a pluralistic, organized political structure that can serve as a model in the Arab World. It resumed its commitment to the parliamentary elections launched by King Hussein and continued under his son King Abdullah II. Trying to do that successfully, Jordan’s process of democracy has brought about positive signs. A number of process reforms have been adopted: Most notable among these are the National Charter, the reintroduction of political parties in politics and to Parliament, political parties are now legal, parliamentary elections have become more regular, and Women have long held the right to vote and have exercised it in large numbers. The process, however, has not resulted in a complete democratic change, it has been halfhearted and hesitant, driven by the government's desire to build its support base and maintain domestic political stability in the face of significant challenges. As a result, the changes have been limited. The government explains this arrangement as a reaction to the barrenness of parliamentary life, in which ideological parties are weak, personality cliques are powerful, and a blocking collation of Islamic and tribal conservatives regularly found common ground in opposing some of the government's more progressive reforms.

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