Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center

The Civil Society Program

This program oversees the publication of the series of civil society and political life in Jordan, which the UJRC initiated since the beginning of 1993. The series consists of reports of surveys conducted by civil society and non-government organizations dealing with issues pertaining to the development and growth of these organizations and the problems and challenges that are obstructing their operations. Theoretical and analytical articles are published with a view to deepening knowledge of the civil society in Jordan and the Middle East.

The Unit on Economic Studies

This unit was established in 1995 and began to issue a series of reports under the title: "The economies of Jordan and the Middle East." The reports were intended to cast light on the problems of the Jordanian economy and the trends of its structural adjustment as well as to explore the various scenarios for regional economic cooperation. 

Jordan’s Parliamentary Elections

Jordanian voters went to the polls on 4 November 1997 for the third time since the launch of the democratic process in Jordan in 1989. Contrary to the first two elections in November 1989 and November 1993 in which the various political parties and forces participated, the recent election was boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and some opposition parties. Furthermore, there was lack of enthusiasm on the part of citizens to participate in the election because of several reasons. Most important of these reasons is the poor performance of the previous parliament and the belief by the people that their participation in the election will not lead to positive or tangible results on the level of improving their livelihood conditions and that parliament’s ability to influence the government’s domestic and foreign policies is very limited.

The Social History Program

The aim of the program is to offset the shortcomings resulting from focusing on the political aspects of Jordan’s contemporary history more than other aspects by paying more attention to the study of social movements and the launch of non-government organizations, municipalities, educational and cultural institutions, and labor movements.
The program includes the issuance of publications based on the verbal historic testimonies of figures who played important roles in Jordan’s contemporary history.

The Program of the Electoral and Parliamentary Studies

This program was initiated in 1993 by publishing a number of studies on Jordan’s parliamentary elections in 1989 and 1993. Within this program, the "Who's is Who in the Jordanian parliament (1993 – 1997) was published in both Arabic and English. an international seminar on contemporary electoral systems was organized in 1994 and the deliberations of the seminar were published in a special book.

The Unit on Peace Studies

This unit was established in 1997 with the aim of monitoring the peace process in the Middle East in general and between Jordan and Israel in particular. The unit keeps files and documents the treaties and agreements concluded and monitors the process of normalization and implementation of the agreements concluded. The unit also monitors the various attitudes towards the peace process through studies that are made and workshop and group discussions that are held.

The Unit on Human Rights and Democratic Development

The Unit on Human Rights and Democratic Development began its functions in 1994 by holding the first conference on the "Democratic Process in Jordan—Where To?" A book was published in both Arabic and English on the deliberations of the conference.

The UJRC has also held a seminar on the "National Charter and the Democratic Transformation in Jordan" in 1995. It also organized another seminar on "Democracy and the Sovereignty of the Law" in 1995. The deliberations of the two seminars were published in a book.

The UJRC intends to publish a guide on the human rights organizations in Jordan preparatory to the convening of a seminar on "Parliament and Human Rights" and another workshop on human rights.

The Tourist Development Program

It is a new program which seeks to explore the neglected aspects of tourist development. This program attaches a great significance to the cultural tourist industry, tourist publications, environment-friendly tourist development, the training of tourist guides and spreading public education in tourist areas. The program will organize a seminar and a number of workshops in 1998.

The program for the study of politicized Islam

The aim of this program is to present Islamic political movements, to examine their experiences and evaluate their success and failure. The program focuses on peaceful, moderate movements and organizations, which participate in parliament and other institutions that have elected officials (such as the municipalities, trade unions and non-government organizations).

The UJRC has published a number of reports and books on the Islamic Action Front Party, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Liberation Party as well other specific issues such as Islam and democracy.

The Research and Training Unit

This unit has been set up recently. Its first activity was to hold a seminar on the "Media and the Freedom of the Press in Jordan." The seminar was held in Amman by the UJRC in collaboration with the Article 19 in October 1997 in the aftermath of the Jordanian government decision to enact an amendment to the press and publications law placing tight restrictions on the freedom of the press, expression and publication, a move that led to the closure of many weekly newspapers. The unit will prepare in 1998 specific amendments to the press and publications law for the parliament, government and the Jordanian Press Association to consider.

The Women Program

This program began with the convening of the seminar on "Jordanian women and political action" in July 1993. The seminar was organized by the UJRC. Dozens of political and women organizations participated in the seminar. Since then, the UJRC organized many workshops and seminars on women, including the following:

• Jordanian women and the electoral law (a local seminar, March 1996).
• Women and political participation in the Arab World (regional seminar, July 1997).
• Women and general elections (three workshops held in 1997  in Zarqa, Karak and Irbid with the aim of enhancing women’s capabilities to participate in the elections.

There are several projects which are scheduled to be implemented within the women’s program in 1998. Most important of these programs are the following:

• The study of the participation of women organizations in human development.
• Preparing an annual report on the conditions of Jordanian women.