The splits in the positions of opposition parties in Jordan on the events in Bahrain and Syria had a negative impact on the areas of coordination towards promoting the Jordanian movement, thereby leading to its slower progression which is no longer enough and sufficient to the extent of achieving rapid reforms in Jordan.

A study – done by the Bahrain Center for Studies in London (BCSL) – is enclosed and titled:

“Jordanian Political Forces’ Position on Bahrain Uprising: Analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood Group, Youth and Partisan Forces.”

The study, prepared by the writer Fuad Ibrahim, notices that Jordan's official and popular positions regarding the Bahraini events were conflicting; the Jordanian Government's official position was absolutely biased in favor of the Bahraini Government owing to the nature of the unique relations between the two Royal Regimes. As a result, the Bahraini security and military structure depended in many respects on Jordan; particularly in terms of training and recruitment. Whereas, the position of the Jordanian Street, especially moves launched by youths spearheading the Jordanian Spring, was supportive of the Bahraini moves without any reservation.

The Jordan Parliament position in this regard has been compatible with the government stand. It is no surprise especially if we take into consideration the statements made by several Jordanian official figures that the Jordanian Parliamentary Elections of 2007 and 2010 were forged.

In general, all political parties were initially supportive and backed the Bahraini people moves in line with their position towards all Arab Spring movements. But positions thereafter started showing some difference and distinction, especially after accession to power by the Muslim Brotherhood in both of Egypt and Tunisia along with the outbreak of riots in Syria. In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood Group in Jordan has changed its position, thereby showing full-scale turnaround and taking sides with the Brotherhood Coalition that is aligned with the Gulf Petrodollars advocated by both Turkey and the West. However, the Pan-Arab and Leftist parties along with the Street movement reflecting the Jordanian Spring remained supportive of the Bahraini street movement.

The study summarizes that in view of the aforementioned considerations, it can seen that the positions of the Jordanian political forces on the Bahrain events are governed by foreign determinants at the expense of the objective principles and stances. At a time when the Jordan “Brotherhood”, largest Opposition party, finds that a new Elections Law warranting them a considerable representation reflecting their presence on site, and at a time when they have arranged, each Friday for more than a year, demonstrations denouncing corruption and demanding to hold the corrupt accountable, and calling for enactment of laws to ensure accession by elected governments representing the people to reign, the Jordanian political forces deny such demands by the Bahraini people, and moreover put themselves in the government supportive trench in Bahrain. On the other side, such forces are entrenched on the side of the Syrian Movement confronting the “Alawite” regime, thereby adopting for the first time in their recent history a political position that is based on sectarian backgrounds, and hence be in the same position as of the Western, Turkish and Gulf coalition.

Similarly, the Pan-Arab and Leftist parties adopt contradictory positions on the Arab Movements. While these parties are advocates of the Bahrain Movement, they stand against the Syrian Movement; but the position of Leftist and Pan-Arab parties here is not based on sectarian grounds, but rather on political grounds related to entrenchment on the side of the “Opposition” forces in confronting the axis of the States of “moderation”. Yet, this position might appear to be standing on the side of dictatorship in Syria.

The splits in the positions of opposition parties in Jordan on the events in Bahrain and Syria had a negative impact on the areas of coordination towards promoting the Jordanian movement, thereby leading to its slower progression which is no longer enough and sufficient to the extent of achieving rapid reforms in Jordan.

The full text of the study – in English and Arabic and in PDF & Test formats –can be obtained via the following link:

English text:

http://www.bcsl.org.uk/en/studies/316-jordanian-political-forces-position-on-bahrain-uprising-examination-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-group-youth-and-partisan-forces?hitcount=0

Arabic text:

http://www.bcsl.org.uk/ar/studies/316-jordanian-political-forces-position-on-bahrain-uprising-examination-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-group-youth-and-partisan-forces#