Islam, Charity, and Activism by
Throughout the Middle East, Islamist charities and social welfare organizations play a major role in addressing the socioeconomic needs of Muslim societies, independently of the state. Through case studies of Islamic medical clinics in Egypt, the Islamic Center Charity Society in Jordan, and the Islah Women's Charitable Society in Yemen, Janine A. Clark examines the structure and dynamics of moderate Islamic institutions and their social and political impact. Questioning the widespread assumption that such organizations primarily serve the poorer classes, Clark argues that these organizations in fact are run by and for the middle class. Rather than the vertical recruitment or mobilization of the poor that they are often presumed to promote, Islamic social institutions play an important role in strengthening social networks that bind middle-class professionals, volunteers, and clients. Ties of solidarity that develop along these horizontal lines foster the development of new social networks and the diffusion of new ideas.
Jordan Society and Culture Complete Report by
Need to know it all? Our all-inclusive culture report for Jordan will get up to speed on all aspects of culture in Jordan, including lifecycle, religion, women, superstitions & folklore, sports, holidays & festivals, and etiquette.
The Making of Jordan by
At the beginning of the 20th Century Jordan, like much of the Middle East, was a loose collection of tribes. By the time of its independence in 1946 it had the most firmly embedded state structures in the Arab world. Drawing on previously untapped sources, Yoav Alon examines how the disparate clan networks of Jordan were integrated into the Hashemite monarchy, with the help of the British colonial administrators. Taking a grassroot perspective, Alon looks at how the weak state institutions introduced by the Ottomans developed in British-administered Jordan. He shows how these institutions co-opted the structures of tribal society, and produced a distinctive hybrid between modern statehood and tribal confederacy which still characterises Jordan to this day. Key figures emerge in the story of Jordan's transformation, such as John Glubb, the charismatic Arab Legion commander who perceived the power of the nomadic tribes and sought to harness it to imperial Britain's statebuilding agenda. Alon’s innovative approach to the origins of modern Jordan provides fresh insights not only into Jordan itself but into colonialism, modernity and the development of the state in the Middle East.
Petra: Jordan's Extraordinary Ancient City by
The ruins of Petra, the ancient Nabatean capital in today's Jordan, constitute one of the most extraordinary and fascinating monumental complexes of the ancient world for the outstanding quality of the architecture and for the city's remarkable position, set amidst rugged hills and narrow gorges. From the fantastic Khasneh to the gigantic Deir, from the spectacular Urn Tomb to the mysterious Temple of the Winged Lions, every monument is described in detail and examined in relation to the complex historical and artistic events of the Rose-red City, the evolution of which is analyzed at length in the introductory chapter. Petra is not unique for its architecture alone. Here, Mother Nature has achieved one of her most original creations, defying her very own rules, laid down at the beginning of time - improbable geometry, unbelievable colors, contrasts that would by unthinkable elsewhere. The illustrations in this book pay tribute to this splendor and make it a work of rare emotional impact.
The Peace Business by
Markus Bouillon's book makes an important and original contribution to the literature on the Middle East peace process. It is based on extensive and imaginative research and it is packed with new and fascinating material. Bouillon places the behaviour of the elites under an uncompromising lens. His work serves as a useful corrective to the conventional wisdom by highlighting the negative effects of the peace process for all but the elites in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories. Avi Shlaim, Oxford University.'The first full-length, authoritative account of the various dimensions of business in the context of Arab-Israeli “peace”. … an empirically dense and nuanced analysis'James Piscatori, Oxford University
Jordan by
This is the definitive guidebook to one of the Middle East's most alluring destinations. Combinding expert text from a team of local writers with the stunning images of a top Insight Guides photographer, it takes readers to the rose-red city of Petra, the most vaunted of Jordan's gems, to Graeco-Roman ruins, Omayyad palaces, Crusader castles, coral reefs and valley oases. It embraces scuba diving in the Gulf of Aquaba, roaming the desert canyons of Wadi Rum, bathing in the hot springs of the Jordan Valley and floating on the Dead Sea. For visitors wishing to venture further afield, chapters are included on the West Bank and Syria. Adding insight to the itineraries, the book profiles Jordan's eclectic mix of people, celebrates the country's rich wildlife, traditions and crafts, and tracks a dramatic history from biblical times to the Arab Revolt and Lawrence of Arabia, concluding with the roller-coaster reign of King Hussein. In addition, it contains detailed maps and an exhaustive listings section giving useful advice on travel, accomodation and restaurants. It is both an inspiring and a practical guidebook.
The Art of Jordan by
First published in 1994 and now available in paperback, an illustrated introduction to the art of Jordan, which provides an outline of Jordan's history and archaeology, with sections on different art forms ranging from the facade of Petra to modern folk jewelery.
