By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ), through the Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II School of Political Science and International Studies, in cooperation with the Jordanian Society for Political Sciences, has launched a policy paper titled “Towards an Effective Party System that Strengthens Parties and Democracy in Jordan.”
The paper is the Tamkeen project’s final output, supported by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), which aims to build capacities and promote more effective political participation.
The launch event brought together UJ vice presidents, academics, researchers, political analysts, and representatives of political parties and civil society organisations.
Speakers presented the paper’s evidence base, key themes, and recommendations, placing them within Jordan’s political modernisation agenda and the national debate on the future of party life in the Kingdom.
In a keynote address, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mazen Qadi emphasised the importance of expanding youth engagement in political parties, describing it as essential to meaningful participation in public policymaking and the strengthening of democratic practice.
Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdelmunim Al-Oudat said Jordan’s legislative framework supports participation in political parties, adding that sustained progress depends on robust organisational practice and public trust.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development Haditha Khraisha noted that capacity-building helps foster responsible citizenship and supports national efforts toward more effective democratic governance.
President of the Jordanian Society for Political Sciences Khaled Shnikat highlighted the importance of active participation through parliamentary elections, describing elections as a key milestone in Jordan’s political modernisation trajectory.
An interactive discussion followed to review the paper’s findings and recommendations, featuring contributions from former Minister of Political Development Sabri Al-Robaihat, Mohammed Khair Ayadat, Sheim Al-Majali, Ahmad Bani Hamdan, and other participants.
The policy paper argues that a strong party system is central to democratic political modernisation. It stresses that party strength is not measured by numbers alone, but by parties’ ability to represent society, develop credible programmes, compete democratically, and influence decision-making.
It reviews developments in Jordan’s party system since 2011, with particular attention to recent reforms, including the Political Parties Law of 2022. It also assesses party participation in the 2024 parliamentary elections as a key test of these reforms in practice.
Methodologically, the paper combines qualitative analysis with quantitative research, drawing on a field survey of 844 respondents from diverse social and educational backgrounds, with youth comprising the majority.
Among its main findings, the paper points to limited political communication and low public awareness of party platforms. It also highlights organisational and resource constraints, alongside a persistent trust gap between citizens and political parties.
The paper recommends strengthening parties’ messaging and digital outreach. It also calls for encouraging programmatic party alliances and mergers to reduce fragmentation, improving performance-based funding mechanisms, and expanding meaningful participation for youth and women in party leadership.