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Guns and Moaners

       Karl Deutsch defined social mobilization as a process in which “old social, economic and psychological commitments are eroded or broken and people become available for new patterns of socialization and behavior”. He suggested that political mobilization involves the induction of the socially uprooted into socially stable new patterns of behaviors and commitment, adding that among the most important results of the process of political mobilization are the increase in the number and membership of political organizations. 
       This transformation in the social values, expectations and orientation in Jordan - following the Arab Spring and its strengthening of the political culture - saw the engagement of people in political life, whether through voting, protesting, running for elections and forming/joining political parties. Jordan currently has 23 political parties and political activists were able to form 61 national lists running for elections. The parliament nowadays is experimenting active coalition formation, paving for future parliamentary governments. This societal change is impacting the political culture and establishment, but it is not clear how positive that is.
The parliament held a session on Wednesday, March 6th to discuss the troubling issue of the surge in petroleum prices. While the Prime Minister was explaining to the MPs the reasons why the government decided to raise prices, he was constantly interrupted by members of the parliament protesting the decision and accusing the premier of corruption. The issue escalated despite the Prime Minister’s efforts to calm the protestors down and proceed with his speech, and minutes  later pro-government parliamentarians decided to take things with their pwn hands. Gun reaching, name calling and fist throwing were all but part of the scandalous session which ended without understanding why the government found no other solution but to raise the price of four fuel products. A session that was intended to brainstorm, to discuss innovative alternatives and examine all other possibilities to protect citizens from yet another surge in price ended in interruptions, accusations and physical confrontations.
Two issues stand out in this boxing ring:
1-      Political participation and awareness led to the election of new enthusiastic faces, who now feel free to criticize the government and its decisions without fear of persecution. Nonetheless, did this social upheaval and development cause genuine political elitism? Did it create a new well read, educated and sophisticated political class? The fact that a number of parliamentarians were outwardly protesting the rise in price, as if they we unaware of the economic crisis in the country, the strict World Bank fiscal obligations Jordan has to respect and the socio-economic constraints in the Kingdom, all of which limiting the acceptable alternatives, is simply embarrassing. Are our representatives completely ignorant of political and economic realities, and do they resort to moaning to gain popular support?

2-      Armed politicians.  Did the democratic wave and political freedom foresee the empowerment of tribesmen whose “issue settlement style” involves violence and gun pointing? Did Deutsch’s prophecy of social mobilization and political development fail when it came to our region? It saddens me that an insulting image was posted on facebook depicting the parliament as a barnyard (please see above caption). The societal change and quest for development should be followed by responsible political development. Joining a party, but running as an independent candidate and representing a constituency as an 8th century tribal warrior were the unfortunate results of the political opening. This current state of political chaos might have serious consequences on any hope for genuine political freedom, democratic participation and popular engagement. Thank you fellow "guns and moaners", our expert pausers, for pressing the pause button with your gun-powdered fingers at each step towards political advancement and development .

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