Succession, Legitimacy, and Regime Stability in Jordan

Arab rulers probably hold the world record in political longevity. In recent years, however, several states in the Middle East and North Africa have witnessed changes in leadership, leading political scientists to inquire into the prospects of political stability for the respective regimes. King Abdallah II of Jordan's ascension to power is an especially interesting case since it displays several features that distinguish it from processes of succession in other Arab countries. First, and unlike other young Arab leaders like Bashar al-Asad of Syria or King Muhammad VI of Morocco, Abdallah II was politically inexperienced prior to his succession. Until a few weeks before becoming king, he had not even known himself that he would succeed his father to the Hashemite throne. He had not