August 30, 2004

Jordan Times

Now It's Time for Action
Editorial

Another conference is being held on political development in Jordan. This one convenes under the rather generic banner of "Strategic Political Development in Jordan" and is organised by the Jordan Development Centre.

Deliberations started yesterday in Amman. On the agenda of yet another debate on how to promote political reforms and development are several complementary issues, all aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's political direction. Discussions became more focused when participants zeroed in on citizens' rights as spelled out by the Constitution and expounded upon by the various international human rights instruments.

Political parties and proposed amendments to the Elections Law, including the designation of fair and balanced electoral districts — important ingredients for achieving representative democracy — also figure high on the agenda. And as with any society attentive to the needs of its future, the role of the youth is being reviewed as well in the much hoped for evolutionary process of our political history. Finally, the role of NGOs and the importance of good governance will round out the deliberations.

The question is: What's new? We have been going round and round on a national concern and making no genuine headway. Although it may be unfair to presume that what is being debated at this week's conference and how it is being debated is but a rehash of already recycled thoughts, one cannot ignore the fact that there's been sufficient talk. Now it's time for action.

The crux of this issue is the strength of the political will to reform the country politically. That will must permeate. We can all agree on what needs to be done, and differences on what needs to be reformed can be worked out. But it is the actual implementation of political development policies and practices that is weak. And it is here that consensus is difficult to achieve.

There is also a sense that we are trying to "reinvent the wheel." Throughout history, societies have struggled through the dynamic process that is democracy. They have run up against governments resistant to what their citizens hold to be ideals of representative democracy. Women have had to fight for their right to vote and then their right to be treated on an equal standing with men. Minorities have battled to be heard, as have industries, associations and all sorts of special interest groups. The key is mobilisation — mobilisation of the citizenry through education, the media and interactive awareness forums at municipal and national levels that would prepare them for the duty of participating responsibly in the political life of the country.

The debates on strategy have run their course. The urgency now is to implement the recommendations of all those deliberations and get the ball rolling.