Mohammad Abu Rumman

This material was published in the second issue of the Jordanian Politics and Society magazine (JPS). The concept of a national or regional role in analysing a country’s foreign policy is mated with other key central concepts, such as the concept of “status” and “sources of power,” general orientations of foreign policy, concepts of national interests, national security, sources of…

Despite Ahmad al-Shara’ (formerly Abu Muhammad al-Jolani) emphasizing the closure of past chapters and committing to a new methodology with a Syrian character—manifested in a wholly new ideological and political discourse distinct from that of global jihadist movements—the movement’s roots, context, and other facets represent a new model within jihadist movements. This is described by one of its most prominent…

The main question regarding Ahmad al-Shar’a and the controversial role of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria’s future goes beyond personal or partisan dimensions. In other words, it’s not the core issue. The main question is whether al-Julani or HTS (in whatever political form it may take – a political party or an ideological alliance) will be a dominant actor…

In Amman, there is considerable interest in the return of Donald Trump as President of the United States, reflected in open and closed political and media discussions about its potential impact on Jordan. These discussions are split between two main viewpoints. The first argues that it is premature to pass judgment, exaggerate, or be alarmed about the potential outcomes, particularly…

The recent parliamentary elections in Jordan finally represented the first major exam of the political modernization plan, which was initiated a few years ago. Everyone was anticipating what itwould result in, either as an endorsement and a model of gradual political development, which was designed by the political modernization plan (with its resulting constitutional amendments, election laws, and new parties)…

Many Arab Governments, as well as many Western officials, have shown political short-sightedness by rushing into welcoming the assassination of Hamas’s leader Yahya Al-Sinwar and by concluding that the movement will be weak after his death, and that will open the door to a prisoner return deal, these are expectations or wishful thinking that ignore fundamental realities of the ongoing…

Two young men in their mid-twenties, residents of the northern suburb of Al-Hashimi in Amman, are well-educated and members of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front. Hossam Abu Ghazaleh, a renewable energy engineer, is married with children, while Amer Qais, a schoolteacher, holds a degree in Islamic jurisprudence (Shafi’I) from the International Islamic Science University. According to close…

Many analysts from both Arab and Western perspectives have exaggerated the connection between Israel’s aggressive actions in Gaza in the past year, since the Al-Aqsa flood on October 7, 2023, and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attempts to evade corruption charges in the Israeli judiciary. Even if this explanation holds some truth, it overlooks a more critical question: the political agenda of…

The parliamentary elections that were recently held in Jordan raised hopes and fears at the same time. In terms of hopes, there is a great comparison to the elections that took place in 1989 (the elections for the eleventh House of Representatives), which Jordanians considered a true model of integrity and credibility. Jordan has not witnessed a similar turn or…

The 2024 parliamentary elections witnessed heavy surprises represented by the number of seats won by the Islamic Action Front (IAF) at the level of the national and local lists. The modest results of the political parties, especially those that were expected to take on a larger number and be a match for the Islamists. The third is the level of…