The
Jordanian Students' Movement (1948-1998)
Its History and Development in Jordan and abroad
Samer
Khreino
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2000
Pp. 288, Arabic
This
book is made up of five chapters and an annex which contains
several important documents issued over the past five years
regarding the subject.
The first chapter focuses on the position of the Jordanian
students' movements and where they are found in Jordan and
abroad; the second chapter discusses the history of students'
unions and boards; the third is about the history of the students'
movements that are affiliated with political powers and parties,
while the fourth discusses the Jordanian students' movement
in general. The fifth and final chapters comprise a number
of major national events and turning points in the students'
movement.
The book, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, also discusses
the history of student movement in Jordan and abroad. It focuses
on the overall characteristics, as well as on national and
politically affiliated movements, which has rendered the history
of students' movements part of Jordan's modern history, worthy
of research in order to understand the general national mood
and the trends of society and of political powers during the
various periods of its history.
The book, which is a very important addition to the Jordanian
library, brings out the history of the Jordanian students'
movement from the shadows of the history of political and
social movements and puts it into perspective as a major element
of Jordan's modern history. It also reveals the importance
of its own history, which so far has remained uncovered. The
book discusses the various stages of students' movements that
were previously unstudied in a comprehensive and unbiased
manner.
In his introduction to the book, journalist and writer Jamil
Nimri says: "Thousands of people will be happy to read
this book which tells a story which they were all a part of
at some time or another. ... the first time this history and
the events that occurred during that time have been recorded.
Luckily, the researcher is a young man with perseverance and
determination, who has taken on the task of gathering historical
events covering a long period of time and many places, events
that are only in the memories of elderly or middle-aged people
who either witnessed them or were a part of them.
"When I met the researcher two years ago, I was not so
sure he could achieve what he set out to do in such a comprehensive
manner and with such excellence, but when I received a copy
of this book a few days ago, I was pleasantly surprised, and
impressed with all the effort that was exerted to publish
it.
"When you hear tens of testimonies, and you go back to
hundreds of references, documents statistics, you realize
the author followed a very diligent methodology and a dependable
manner to present the subject in an objective manner, which
indicates the author is intellectually qualified and deserves
gratitude for the work that he has done with loyalty and precision
in his book, which cover 50 years of the life of the Jordanian
students' movement."
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The
Age of Questions (The Road to Exile 3)
Feisal
Hourani
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman,
Pp. 430, Arabic
This
book is an excellent novel by the renowned political critic
Feisal Hourani and it is the third of his 5-part book series
"The Roads to Exile", following the publication
of the second part "Ascending to Zero", in which
he records, in the form of a novel, his own experience as
a refugee from his homeland to a new country.
In "The Age of Questions", Feisal Hourani, continues
his novel, which is a collection of 17 small stories that
begin in "Al Batiha", in the Quneitrah region, where
he stopped on his way to work from Damascus, following his
appointment as a teacher there. In the book the author describes
the nature of the location and the surrounding areas, his
experience with the students' movements, and the diversity
of that period.
The book highlights the social environment in Syria, the revival
of political conflicts and the return of political pluralism,
following the separation between Syria and Egypt. It also
describes the 1950s and 1960s and the struggle of the people
as a result of the political circumstances prevalent at the
time, particularly the struggle for power and its impact locally
and in the Arab world in general.
Many have praised this book, including Dr. Abdel Rahman Yaghi
who said: "Feisal has astounded us all... he has blended
reality with surprise... surprise with reality, and came up
with a very strange and unique mixture. But the honesty of
this mixture has made it very special, and Feisal presents
it to the critics to make up their minds about it. He has
extended the element of surprise to the point of reality,
and has reflected the light of reality on the element of surprise
in order to discover the depth of this lake that attracts
people to swim in it, and ultimately his readers are confused
where the limits of their astonishment are, and where reality
does begin..."
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The
Body... A Comparison Between Illusion, Imagination and the
Dream to Understand Body Language
Talal
Mua'ala
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman,
Pp. 140, Arabic
This
book covers an extensive and fertile area of poetic readings
of "modern Arab creativity" ranging from daring
to objective, discussing in a liberated and unprecedented
manner thesis, concepts and quotations.
The book, which is a human story, also discusses these concepts
in an attempt to introduce to the reader new keys to this
subject, which for some is restricted to "bedrooms and
twilights".
The book is made up of three chapters. The first is titled
"Imagination and Creating Illusion" and focuses
on the issue of the human body, which has always been presented
as "the first mother", the source of all beings,
and the proponent of life. The author has developed the former
abstract picture through time, although this was by no means
contradictory in the minds of ancient man, until he reached
the "Greek age" which ended with the emergence of
the first cities in the Rafidain Valley, all the way to the
industrial revolution in the 19th century, backed-up by the
ideologies of such intellectuals as Maurice Nadou in "The
History of Surrealism", Jabra Ibrahim Jabra in "Art,
Dreams and the Brain", and David Leburton in "The
Anthropology of the Body", among others.
The second chapter focuses on "the progressive body",
the political abuse of the body, and the outlook on this symbol
as a victim, linking the body to the historical events as
a monument that is enlarged beyond the human cultured needs.
This chapter also discusses the desire for knowledge, from
Freud to Michael Bernardeau, to Maro Conti on body symbolism,
and sheds light on the body's scientific and cosmetic superiority.
The third chapter comprises pictures of plastic arts relevant
to the contents of the book, and a comment on each picture,
all based on "the body", this secret which is moulded
into dreams, quality, victim, imagination, ideology, nightmares,
forbiddance and desire; it also discusses the body and society,
its image and its magic. As the author himself says: "...
and other bodies who try to create shadows of your actions
and visions... even if it is in the future..."
On the whole, this book has explored the different facets
of the same body, and the female obsession, which was a major
focal point of the book, in a very smooth and concise manner.
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The
Strategy of Jordanian Tourism at the Turn of the 21st Century
Group
Effort
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2000
Pp. 88, Arabic
This
book was published by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development,
the economic arm of the Al-Urdun Al-Jadid Research Center,
and comprises the proceedings of a discussion session organized
by the forum, which was attended by a number of representatives
from the tourism sector, the hotel industry, the air transport
sector, academics and experts in the field of tourism, in
addition to researchers and businessmen.
The book contains a working paper by Aqel Biltaji, Jordanian
minister of tourism, and comments by Nisreen Barakat, from
the Ministry of Planning. This session was headed by Hamdi
Taba'a', head of the Jordanian Businessmen Association who
also conducted the debate.
The book sheds light on the importance of tourism as part
of the global economy, and the promising prospective growth
of international tourism, including the countries in the region,
and Jordan. It also shows the importance Jordan gives this
sector in order to revive its national economy, and describes
the discussions on developing tourism in the Arab world.
The book contains many tables depicting the work force in
the sector, income from tourism and the percentage of income
from tourism of the GNP, in addition to tables that show the
projects for tourist hotels currently under construction and
the rate of growth of this sector, among others.
The book also contains a 22-page summary in English.
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Jordanian
Banks and the Requirements of the 21st Century
Group Effort
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2000
Pp. 92, Arabic
This
book was published by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development
and contains the proceedings of a discussion group during
which Mufleh Aqel, regional manager of the Arab Bank, presented
a working paper which was commented on by Wasif Azar, general
manager of the Jordanian National Bank, and discussed by a
select group of bankers.
The book is very important for those working in the banking
and financial sector, and for those facing the challenges
of the third millennium which witnessed the emergence of investment
organizations that are competing with the banks and assuming
roles that were traditionally limited to banks, in addition
to the communications and information revolution, all of which
are obliging bankers to revise the way banking services are
provided.
The book portrays the history of banking in Jordan since the
1950s, and the factors that have affected the banking sector
since the 1970s. It also includes various interventions by
a number of specialists in this sector.
The book also comprises a summary in English.
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The
Constraints of Economic Growth in Jordan
Group Efforts
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2000
Pp. 82, Arabic
This
book was issued by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development
and contains the proceedings of a workshop organized by the
forum. It includes a working paper by Dr. Fahed Fanek, renowned
economist and economic researcher, two interventions by Dr.
Bassam Saket, the head of the Monetary Portfolios Council,
which was commented on by Dr. Fanek, and several renowned
economists like Dr. Jawad Al Anani, ex-chief of the Royal
Court, Dr. Mohammad Saeed Nabulsi, ex-governor of the Central
Bank of Jordan, Dr. Mohammad Smadi, ex-secretary general of
the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Jawad Al Hadid, director
general of the Arab Banking Corporation, Adeeb Hadad, dean
of the Jordanian Banking Institute, and Dr. Khalid Wazani,
a professor of economics at the Hashemite University.
The book aims to identify the internal and external constraints
of economic growth in Jordan, during the past few years, and
attempts to attain a consensus on the policies and solutions
that will serve to revive the economy and propel it forward.
The book is issued as part of a series of books comprising
the proceedings of discussions organized by the Jordanian
Forum for Economic Development in an attempt to bridge the
gap between the government and the private sector, and which
aim to motivate and enrich economic policies.
The book also comprises a 22-page summary of the proceedings
of the seminar in English, in addition to several tables that
show the development of the GNP during the period 1992-1998.
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The Jordanian Industry... Challenges and
Perspectives
Discussion Session
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2000
Pp. 98, Arabic
This
book contains the proceedings of a discussion session held
by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development at the Institute
for the Development of Exports and Trade Centers.
The book is a report that comprises three major working papers
presented by Dr. Mazen Saket, director general of the Jordanian
International Company for Textile Manufacturing, titled "The
Jordanian Industry: Reality and Challenges", in which
he discussed the impact of the international state of affairs
on the Jordanian economy, in addition to identifying and analyzing
the problems facing this economy. The second paper, "Towards
a Better Understanding of the Potential for Investment in
Industrial Projects", was presented by Dr. Samir Omeish,
consultant at the Ministry of Industry and Trade; it describes
the links to the manufacturing process, the relationships
that must be established and the facilities that must be available
in order to ensure the success of an industrial project.
The third paper, presented by Nisreen Barakat, head of the
National Task Force for the Study of Competitiveness at the
Ministry of Planning and titled "Competitiveness in the
Jordanian Industry", describes the behavioral trends
in the Jordanian Industries.
This report also contains a summary of the proceedings of
the discussion session in English.
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The
Jordanian Agricultural Sector and the Challenges of Reviving
Agricultural exports
A Workshop
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2001
Pp. 100, Arabic
This
book was issued by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development
and comprises the proceedings of a workshop organized by JFED
on March 27, 2001 at the Institute for the Development of
Exports, which was attended by a select group of Jordanian
economists.
The book describes the role of the agricultural sector and
the extent of its contribution to the development of the economy
in Jordan. The main working paper was presented by Dr. Salem
Al Louzi, head of the Bureau of the Arab Organization for
Agricultural Development, which was commented on by Hasan
Nabulsi, head of the General Union of Agriculturists, Samir
Habab, professor of Agricultural Marketing at the Jordan University,
and Eng. Akef Zoubi, head of the Studies and Information Department
at the Agricultural Marketing Organization.
This book contains a summary in English.
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The
Transparency of Statistical Data in Serving the Private Sector
and Economic Decision makers
Workshop
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 10 October 2001
Pp. 65, Arabic
This
book was issued by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development
and comprises the proceedings of a workshop organized by the
forum at the Amman Chamber of Industry on July 25, 2000. The
book contains the major working papers presented by Dr. Hussein
Shakhatreh, general manager of the Public Statistics Department,
which was commented upon by Jameel Jubran, from the Amman
Chamber of Industry, Samir Ghawi from the Jordan Times daily,
Yasar Abu Hamour, from the Center for the Advancement of research,
Mohammad Bawarseh from the Prime Ministry, Ahmad Sa'ade from
the Amman Chamber of Industry, and a number of researchers
and specialists.
The book is an attempt to identify the major elements that
contribute to the transparency of statistical data, and describes
their characteristics and feasibility, in addition to identifying
the requirements of the success of the Department of Public
Statistics in conducting surveys and collecting data.
The book contains a summary in English.
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Industrial
Exports and the Role of the Free Trade Agreement in Activating
Them
A Workshop
Sindbad Publishing House, Amman, 2001
Pp. 102, Arabic
This
book was issued by the Jordanian Forum for Economic Development
and comprises the proceedings of a workshop organized by the
forum at the Amman Chamber of Industry on July 13, 2000, during
which several working papers which discussed industrial investments
in Al-Hasan Industrial City and the extent of benefit from
the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) Agreements, were presented.
Papers that focused on the role of the Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) in boosting industrial exports and the impact of international
and regional agreements on Jordanian industries and exports,
the role of the QIZ and the FTA with the US in activating
industrial exports to the American market were also presented.
The book contains several working papers and interventions
by Eng. Ali Obeidat, head of investors at Al-Hasan Industrial
City, Eng. Abdel Halim Abdeen, head of investors at the Amman
Industrial City Society, Dr. Sameer Omeish, deputy secretary
general of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Maher Al-Naser,
chairman of the board of directors of the Irbid Chamber of
Industry, and Ahmad Al Sa'adi, director of research at the
Amman Chamber of Industry.
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Democracy
and the Sovereignty of Law:
edited by Hussein Abu Roman.
Sindbad Publishing House, 1997. 235 pages (Arabic).
Democracy and the Sovereignty of Law contains the deliberations
of a seminar held by the Al-Urdun Al-Jadid Research Center
(UJRC) with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. August Hanning
and Albrecht Weber discuss German experiences, the role of
the constitution, federal machinery, and the federal constitutional
court; Edda Schliepack examines the importance of opposition
in a democracy; and Slobodan Milacic considers the unwanted
political consensus and the threat of the democratic opposition.
He also writes about judicial independence in France. Attorney
Anis Kassem deals with the topic of constitutional law in
Palestine; Adel Sherif discusses the Supreme Constitutional
Court in Egypt and its role in consolidating the democratic
experiment; and Nizam Barakat discussed the roel of the Supreme
Court in the Israeli political system. Presentations on Jordan
include attorney Asma Khader on the constitutionality of the
laws; former Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah Nsour on the relationship
between the majority and the opposition in the parliament;
Kamal Nasser, former president of the Jordanian Bar Association,
on democracy and the sovereignty of law; and Hanna Hatter
on the role of the Judiciary in protecting the march of democracy.
The volume includes comments by former government officials
and members of the parliament as well as judges, lawyers,
and professors of history and law.
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Toward
an Appropriate Democratic Electoral Law:
Edited by Khadijeh Habashneh.
Sindbad Publishing House, 1997, 100 pages (Arabic).
UJRC published the proceedings of this seminar, held in November
1996 in collaboration with the Jordan Research Center at yarmouk
University, in its series on "Civil Society and Political
Life in Jordan". This series preceded elections for the
House of Representatives in November 1997, the third election
held since the democratic transformation began in 1989. the
proceedings cover the importance of the electoral law for
democratic transformation as well as the development of political
life and party pluralism. They make clear that there were
several points of agreement among representatives of the various
political and party trends. They also highlight the increasing
discussion of allocating a quota for women in the House of
Representatives and the diminishing reservations over this
quota. Ideas for a new electoral law are submitted by Upper
House member Na'ilah Al-Rashdan and House of Representatives
members Salim Al-Zu'bi, Salih Sha'watah, and Abdul Al-Rahim
Al-Ukour, who reviews the various electoral systems and points
out the shortcomings of "one man, one vote" when
applied in Jordan. These participants assert that the law
must be amended and replaced with a more modern electoral
system that could unify the country and strengthen the chances
of representation of political forces and parties.
The second part includes the deliberations at a roundtable
on the achieving a national consensus on a new electoral system,
in which academics, members of parliament, and politicians
participated. The participants agreed upon several recommendations,
notably the formation of a joint committee of government representatives,
party, and women leaders to Reach a unified perception of
the new electoral law. They emphasized the need to achieve
equality among electoral constituencies so that there would
be the right balance between the number of seats and the number
of people residing in districts.
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