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King Hussein's Uncertain Legacy
Power passes to the next generation in a key Middle Eastern kingdom.
by Melvin Rhodes
In governing their nations, not many
world leaders make a difference either in their own country or on the world stage.
Even fewer make a positive impact.
One such man who made a difference was Jordan's King Hussein, who died of cancer
earlier this year at age 63.
When Hussein ascended the throne, Winston Churchill, Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin
were still in power. Our world is different from theirs. No longer do these three
powers dominate it. The United States remains the only superpower but often fails
to have its own way, especially in the unpredictable and volatile Middle East.
King Hussein was a voice of moderation and reason in the region, working for peace
with Israel and trying to contain the extreme elements calling for the destruction
of the Jewish state. The absence of his calming influence could create a political
vacuum detrimental to the stability of the area. For this reason his death could
make a big difference. Even if his son and heir, King Abdullah, continues the policies
of his father, his lack of experience could be a decisive factor in the Mideast cauldron.
Additionally, the sudden change in the succession just two weeks before Hussein's
death may have led to division in the royal family and divided loyalties in the military
and among the Bedouin clans. Abdullah needs the support of all of these groups to
succeed. He inherits a volatile throne. Hussein was at the side of his grandfather,
Jordan's first monarch, when he was assassinated in 1951, and Hussein survived more
assassination attempts than any other monarch of the modern age.
Autocratic Region
When we look at the recent history of the Middle East, it is clear that the stability
of the region depends on the survival of the remaining monarchies in the area--Jordan
and Saudi Arabia being the most important.
Although Britain and America in their turns played major roles in the Middle East
during this century, no democracy in the region exists other than the Jewish state
of Israel, which is barely 50 years old. Many of the Arab nations carved out of the
defeated Ottoman Empire after World War I had kings, usually local emirs from Turkish
days, installed on their thrones by Great Britain.
These were constitutional monarchies, but their parliamentary systems did not work
well, and the monarchs held most of the power. Many of the monarchs and their children
received their education and military training in Britain. They often maintained
alliances with the British until Britain began withdrawing from the region after
the loss of the Suez Canal in 1956.
King Hussein attended Britain's most prestigious private school, Eton, followed by
military training at Sandhurst. One of his four wives was British. Their son now
sits on the Hashemite throne.
These monarchs are all influenced by Western ways and Western thinking. However,
they must contend with a rising tide of Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism,
which has led to the overthrow of some monarchies in the region and made the future
of the others uncertain.
Fifty Years of War
The post - World War II turmoil in the Middle East began in 1948 with the end the
British mandate over Palestine and the establishment of Israel. Only two years before,
the British had granted independence to Jordan, installing Hashemite King Abdullah
on the throne. At the creation of Israel, Arab armies from Jordan, Egypt, Syria,
Iraq and Lebanon tried in vain to obliterate the Jewish state in its infancy.
This Arab failure eventually led to disgruntled army officers overthrowing Egypt's
King Farouk in July 1952. Farouk was not pro-British but had an international reputation
as a playboy and was perceived as a corrupt influence on the Egyptian people. After
his overthrow, Farouk made a prediction: "Eventually there will be only five kings
left in the world: the king of spades, the king of diamonds, the king of hearts,
the king of clubs and the king of England."
Farouk's prophecy has not quite come to pass, but several thrones did fall in following
years. His overthrow led to a radicalization of parts of the Arab world and increasing
Soviet influence. The Russian presence has virtually gone, but the radicals remain.
Tumbling Monarchies
Britain lost control of the Suez Canal to Egypt's President Nasser four years
after Farouk's overthrow and over the next 15 years withdrew most of its military
presence from the region. In 1958 Iraq's monarchy was violently overthrown, and its
young king and all members of the immediately royal family were executed. A period
of political instability followed, ending with the ascendancy of ruthless President
Saddam Hussein.
Four years later Yemen's monarchy fell. Seven years later Libya's King Idris was
overthrown by Col. Gadhafi. Non-Arab but also Muslim Iran saw its shah overthrown
and a new radical Islamic regime take its place early in 1979. Ironically, the Iranians
were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their revolution the same week King Hussein
was buried.
These examples show an unmistakable trend: Each time a Middle Eastern monarchy has
fallen, a radical anti-Western regime has replaced it. In most cases the army has
overthrown the monarch, Iran being the exception.
The radical presidents in the Mideast bring to mind an observation in Ecclesiastes 10:16-17: "Woe to you, country with a lad for king, and where princes start feasting
in the morning! Happy the land whose king is nobly born, where princes eat at a respectable
hour to keep themselves strong and not merely to revel!" (New Jerusalem Bible).
Some of the region's monarchies are ostentatious in their wealth, thereby encouraging
resentment and dissidence within their kingdoms. But their overthrow could unbalance
the area.
Delicate Balancing Acts
Pro-Western monarchies remain in the Middle East, notably the small Persian Gulf
states. But two are of particular importance: Saudi Arabia and Jordan. These are
the largest, and their geographical position makes them extremely important to Western
interests.
Both have extreme nationalists and religious fundamentalists in their midst. The
radicals' strength is contained by the presence of their pro-Western leaders, but
their influence must be taken into account. When the United States and Britain sought
support in December for their bombing raids on Iraq, not one of the
pro-Western leaders openly supported the action. To have done so could have
led to increased opposition in their own countries and their possible overthrow.
They walk a fine line.
Because they are willing to work with the United States toward peace in the Middle
East, which means patiently cooperating as the U.S. increases pressure on Israel
to give up the occupied territories, the stability of the monarchies is important
to the United States. However, the tie with America can be seen as negative for the
kingdoms themselves because their leaders can be blamed for American actions in the
region, including actions against Iraq.
Jordan's new king begins his reign with much in his favor. He has the goodwill of
his subjects as a result of the respect and devotion accorded his father. He is well
educated and has military experience. He understands the West and will likely continue
to receive the aid his poor nation needs to survive.
He is married to a Palestinian, which should help him with the majority of his subjects
who are also Palestinians. He has the support of the desert tribes within Jordan.
He has the sympathy and respect of the Israelis, who sent a sizable delegation to
his father's funeral. He will again receive financial support from the Persian Gulf
states, support that was withdrawn when his father did not back the allies against
Iraq. But he retains Iraq's friendship and even Syria's.
King Abdullah has much going for him. The peace of the Middle East depends much on
this man. Time will tell whether--or for how long--he can withstand the pressures
leading to instability in the region.
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Keywords: Jordan King Hussein politics of the Middle East democrascy Middle East monarchies
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