INTRODUCTION

Jordan, a dynastic monarchy since independent statehood in 1946, was dominated by King Hussein. During his 47 years in power, he made a number of institutional changes. After a failed coup attempt and wrangling with a socialist-led parliament, Hussein dissolved the assembly and banned political parties in 1957. Elections to a new legislature were held in 1962 and again in 1967, but candidates had to run as independents. By 1978, Hussein had marginalized the parliament in favor of a National Consultative Council, a sixty-person council charged with giving advice to the king. Hussein reconstituted the legislature, however, in 1984 with the first competitive general elections held five years later. The elections were a huge success for Islamist groups, who were expected to win seven to fifteen seats, but instead garnered thirty-four. A further ten deputies were elected from opposition parties (six nationalists and four leftists).

In the face of opposition victory, the king made a conciliatory choice of prime minister in Mudar Badran, who had already served in the post in the early 1980s. Nevertheless, assembly members were in no mood to compromise. In Badran's initial appearance before the parliament, he was “subject to a bruising three-day debate” in which parliamentarians criticized the government's past record in managing the economy.