Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Petersen, Marie Juul

Titel

Social Welfare Activism in Jordan: Democratisation in Disguise

Ist Teil von

• Danish Institute Internat Studies, Jan 2008, 8 pp, 2008, p.8p-8p

Erscheinungsjahr

2008

Quelle

PAIS Index

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Many Jordanians perceive formal politics in Jordan as illegitimate, corrupt and authoritarian. Thus, when searching for agents of change and reform, we have to look beyond the formal political system. In this regard, recent years have seen an increasing interest in civil society. However, this interest tends to focus on secular organisations and institutions, overlooking religious ones, although these make up a large part of Jordanian civil society. Particularly interesting are the country's many Muslim social welfare organisations, engaged in activities such as education, health care and financial assistance to the poor. This brief asks whether these organisations can be considered potential agents of democratic change or rather as preservers of the status quo. Moreover, do they employ Islam as a means of control or empowerment?