Jordan's King Walks a Fine Line Between Domestic and International Demands

A rising tide of protests in Jordan is gaining power over the policy in Amman. Jordan's social contract, long held together by the monarchy's mystique and personality as well as dollops of foreign aid, faces a new problem. While nationalists on one side are demanding the king adopt policies against the interests of his key donors, economically aggrieved protesters are undercutting the structural reforms the kingdom needs to sustain itself. King Abdullah II cannot please everyone, and cracks are beginning to appear in the social contract. Those cracks must be filled, and either anti-government forces, extremists or the international community will step in to fill it. As the cracks widen, the behavior of Jordan's key donors -- The United States, Europe and the Arab Gulf states -- will determine the monarchy's stability. Yet the demands of these foreign powers have the potential to clash with Jordan's growing protest movements and cause...