Since the establishment of the state, Jordan has seen various political advances, most notably in the legislative and institutionalization processes. This included the adoption of the 1928 Organic Law and legislation governing political life, which eventually led to the adoption of the 1952 Constitution and its subsequent amendments. Institutions of governance, political representation, and participation have all been enhanced in tandem with the continuous growth of political legislation and the establishment and development of constitutional authorities.
Jordan has accomplished political development; after a century of statehood, it is no longer possible to talk of political development, which was once a serious need. A series of significant legislative and institutional reforms have been achieved in the political system, prompting a transition to the idea of political modernization. And, because political development frequently encounters hurdles and obstacles, political life requires modernization and modification anytime political tools fall short of the aspirations of participation, justice, and equal opportunity. Modernization is a progressive process that involves a transition to a developed political system on which Jordanians can build their democratic model, with Jordanian specifications that promote freedom and strengthen the role of women and youth in decision-making.
Since King Abdullah’s accession to the throne two decades ago, youth has been a hot topic in Jordan. The monarch has always showed a significant care and commitment to supporting and empowering Jordanian youth. Today, Jordanian youth make up 63% of the population, according to UNICEF. Nonetheless, several legislative, procedural, and most crucial, economic barriers keep young Jordanians from participating in active public life. Furthermore, Jordan’s youth are disproportionately underrepresented in official political institutions such as the legislature and executive branch. This, in turn, contradicts the principle of equitable representation for all segments of society and slows national attempts to expand youth and women political participation.
In June 2021, His Majesty King Abdullah entrusted the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System with modernizing the political reform process and upholding Jordanians’ right to increased democratic participation and empowerment of youth and women. This includes drafting recommendations for the local administration law, proposing reforms to the election and political parties’ laws, and amending the constitution to include provisions for election, political parties, youth, and women empowerment and to enhance the parliament work mechanisms.
After three months of work, we can confidently say that some long-forgotten hopes have been restored. One of the key reasons of this revitalized hope was the King’s entrustment of ten young men and women under the age of 35 to join in the modernization process and represent Jordanian youth. This beacon of optimism can be seen throughout Jordan’s twelve governorates. For the first time, the youth feel represented in formal political channels, closer to decision-making circles, and hopeful that they, too, would one day pave the way to better serve the country and its people. A healthy political ecology and a sense of hope necessitate adhering to His Majesty’s progressive vision, which includes boosting the engagement of youth and women in Jordanian politics and developing a modern and inclusive political system.
Thus, the Youth Empowerment Subcommittee has built its work on the pillars and principles of expanding youth participation in political work and decision-making positions and empowering youth culturally, socially, and economically. In addition to activating the role of youth in local communities and society, ensuring the ability of young people to freely express their priorities, communicating the voice of youth fairly through traditional and modern media, and integrating youth priorities within local and national priorities.
As a result, the Subcommittee of Youth Empowerment presented several recommendations to promote youth engagement in Jordanian decision-making. Among them was lowering the candidacy age from 30 to 25, which would promote youth participation in the Lower House and encourage them to join parties. Other recommendations included improving women’s representation in elected national and local government bodies, providing financial support to political parties’ youth wings, and granting political parties greater freedom to operate, including within universities. the committee also suggested to remove the requirement for civil servants who wish to run for election to resign, in exchange for 90 days of unpaid leave. this shall remove a substantial obstacle that young people and women, in particular, experience when attempting to enter the parliamentary election race.
Without a doubt, political engagement is not the only concern of today’s youth. Additionally, the Committee has submitted a “Proposal Paper” that will address issues such as employment, education, public freedoms and civil liberties, and meaningful volunteer opportunities for youth.
It is no secret that it is necessary to achieve equal opportunities for young people in the educational systems, within the framework of the rule of law, social justice, and equality. This requires providing a supportive economic environment for Jordanian youth to advance their active participation in various fields. Today in Jordan, we cannot allow skepticism, fear of change, or a hesitation to embrace modernization to squander the enormous potential of our wonderful young leaders, who are enthusiastic and passionate about contributing to Jordan’s modernization and prosperity.