Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible by Sean Yom

In Jordan, Sean Yom provides a concise yet authoritative synthesis of the country from its founding over a century ago to the present. He explores Jordan's government, society, economy, and foreign policy in a systematic manner, offering an immersive tour of this underappreciated but vital Arab country. Uniquely, Yom combines theoretical work from political science, sociology, and other scholarly fields with firsthand knowledge of Jordan garnered over decades of study to guide readers towards the most important insights. This book underscores the urgency of grasping contemporary Jordanian affairs and shows why the ways opposition and uprisings unfold within its borders will likewise shape the future of democracy in the Arab world.

Sean Yom is Associate Professor of Political Science at Temple University. He is a specialist on regimes and governance in the Middle East, especially in Arab monarchies like Jordan, Kuwait, and Morocco. His research engages authoritarian politics, democratic reforms, and economic development in the region, as well as their implications for US foreign policy. He is the author of From Resilience to Revolution (2015) and a co-editor of The Political Science of the Middle East (with Marc Lynch and Jillian Schwedler; Oxford 2022).

2025

Hardcover