See e.g. Jennifer Gandhi, Political Institutions under Dictatorship (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008), Ellen Lust-Okar, Structuring Conflict in the Arab World. Incumbents, Opponents, and Institutions (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), Jillian Schwedler, Faith in Moderation. Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006), Jason Brownlee, Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007), Joshua Stacher, Adaptable Autocrats. Regime Power in Egypt and Syria (Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2012), Michael Herb, "Princes and Parliaments in the Arab World," The Middle East Journal, 58, no. 3 (2004): 369–384, id., All in the Family. Absolutism, Revolution and Democracy in the Middle Eastern Monarchies (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999).

 See e.g. Jennifer Gandhi, Political Institutions under Dictatorship (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008), Ellen Lust-Okar, Structuring Conflict in the Arab World. Incumbents, Opponents, and Institutions (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), Jillian Schwedler, Faith in Moderation. Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006), Jason Brownlee, Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007), Joshua Stacher, Adaptable Autocrats. Regime Power in Egypt and Syria (Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2012), Michael Herb, "Princes and Parliaments in the Arab World," The Middle East Journal, 58, no. 3 (2004): 369–384, id., All in the Family. Absolutism, Revolution and Democracy in the Middle Eastern Monarchies (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999).)| false
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 Milan Svolik, The Politics of Authoritarian Rule (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012), 10.

 Milan Svolik, The Politics of Authoritarian Rule (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012), 10.)| false
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 Ronald Wintrobe, The Political Economy of Dictatorship (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), 33.

 Ronald Wintrobe, The Political Economy of Dictatorship (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), 33.)| false
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 Albrecht and Schlumberger, ‘Waiting for Godot,’ 382.

 Albrecht and Schlumberger, ‘Waiting for Godot,’ 382.)| false
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 Steven Heydemann, ed., Networks of Privilege in the Middle East. The Politics of Economic Reform Revisited (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).

 Steven Heydemann, ed., Networks of Privilege in the Middle East. The Politics of Economic Reform Revisited (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).)| false
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 Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (London: Verso, 1983).

 Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (London: Verso, 1983).)| false
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 In February 2011, a survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies showed that 85% of the population considered economic issues to be Jordan’s most serious problem (33% rising prices, 25% unemployment, 19% poverty, 8% the general economic situation), in contrast to only 1% who thought political reform to be the most pressing issue. See Center for Strategic Studies, Istitla‘ li-l-Ra’i al-‘Amm hawla Tashkil Hukumat al-Sayyid Ma‘ruf al-Bakhit (al-Thaniya) [Public Opinion Poll on the creation of Ma‘ruf al-Bakhit’s second government], February 2011 (Amman: Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan).

 In 2012, current spending further increased by fifteen per cent to over 7 billion jd (Ibid.). Resources for mass spending mainly came from outside the country. Both the usa and the Gulf states played a crucial role, having a vital interest in preserving stability in Jordan; see Bank, Richter and Sunik, Durable, Yet Different, 169.