1 Jordan Center for Social Research An Independent, Non-Profit Think Tank Amman – Jordan National Poll #2 of Jordanian Public Opinion on: Democratic Transformation and Political Reform in Jordan Dr. Musa Shteiwi

2 Contents Poll Objectives Poll Sample Poll Outcomes

3 Poll Objectives The most important challenges facing Jordanian society Public perceptions of justice and procedural fairness Levels of trust in national institutions Levels of support for various electoral models Public support for various political tendencies and electoral quota systems Attitudes on the urgency of political reform and the relative importance of security vs. political reform; Public support for passing an anti-terrorism law JCSR and its partners produced their first national poll in September The main objective of this second poll is to examine Jordanian public opinion regarding issues related to the process of democratic transformation and political reform in the wake of the hotel bombings in Amman, including the following issues:

4 Poll Sample The sample consisted of 1000 persons (50% males and 50% females) who are 18 years or older. The sampling methodology used was a random cluster sample which included 100 sites all over the Kingdom. The margin of error is ±2.5%. The frame of the 2004 census was used (courtesy of the Jordanian Department of Statistics.) The field work for the poll was conducted between the 10 th and 14 th of December 2005 by Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants. The poll was conducted with the support of the International Republican Institute (IRI).

5 Summary of the Poll’s Most Important Findings

6 IN GENERAL, ARE THINGS IN JORDAN GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR THE WRONG DIRECTION?

7 IN YOUR OPINION,WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING JORDAN TODAY? (OPEN ENDED)/ DECEMBER

8 IN YOUR OPINION,WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING JORDAN TODAY? (OPEN ENDED)/ September

9 TAKING ALL THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POLTICAL PROBLEM FACING JORDAN TODAY? (OPEN ENDED)/ December

10 TAKING ALL THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POLTICAL PROBLEM FACING JORDAN TODAY? (OPEN ENDED)/ SEPTMEBER

11 THE BEST WAY TO GOVERN THE SOCIETY

12 THINGS BEING AS THEY ARE AT PRESENT, IN WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS HAS ONE A GOOD CHANCE TO GET FAIR AND JUST TREATMENT?

13 I WILL MENTION SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS/ORGANIZATIONS TO YOU. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU FULLY TRUST THEM, SOMEWHAT TRUST THEM, OR DO NOT TRUST THEM AT ALL.

14 I WILL MENTION SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS/ORGANIZATIONS TO YOU. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU FULLY TRUST THEM, SOMEWHAT TRUST THEM, OR DO NOT TRUST THEM AT ALL.

15 A GOVERNMENT CAN USE DIFFERENT METHODS TO PROTECT ITS ABILITY TO GOVERN A COUNTRY. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS DO YOU AGREE OR DO NOT AGREE/ December

16 THINK OF A SITUATION IN WHICH MANY PEOPLE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND WANT TO CHANGE IT. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU CONSIDER APPROPRIATE OR NOT APPROPRIATE?/ December

17 THINK OF A SITUATION IN WHICH MANY PEOPLE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND WANT TO CHANGE IT. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU CONSIDER APPROPRIATE OR NOT APPROPRIATE?/ September

18 TO WHAT DEGREE DO YOU THINK THAT THE FREEDOM TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISIONS AND POLICIES IS GUARANTEED IN JORDAN/ December

19 TO WHAT DEGREE DO YOU THINK THE FREEDOM OF Criticizing the government publicly IS GUARANTEED IN JORDAN/ September

20 IF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE HELD TODAY, WHICH POLITICAL TENDENCY WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY VOTE FOR?/ December

21 IF THERE WERE ELECTIONS FOR OUR PARLIAMENT, WHICH POLITICAL TENDENCY WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY TO VOTE FOR?/ September

22 Please tell us whether you approve or disapprove of the following election methods?

23 WHICH OF THE ABOVE METHODS DO YOU THINK IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR JORDAN?

24 ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE PARLIAMENT ELECTION LAW OF 2003 OR CHANGING IT?/ September 43.1% of those who would like to change the law prefer a multiple voting system

25 LET US SUPPOSE THAT THE MIXED ELECTION SYSTEM HAS BEEN SELECTED; DO YOU AGREE THAT THE VOTER SHOULD HAVE….

26 LET US SUPPOSE THAT VOTERS WERE GIVEN ONE VOTE ONLY, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR VOTE TO?

27 THE JORDANIAN ELECTION LAW OF 2003 SET ASIDE A QUOTA OF SEATS FOR MEMBERS OF CERTAIN GROUPS. DO YOU AGREE, OR DISAGREE WITH KEEPING THE QUOTA IN PARLIAMENT FOR:

28 DO YOU SUPPORT THE DISSOLUTION OF THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT AND HOLDING EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS?

29 AFTER THE ATTACKS ON HOTELS IN AMMAN, THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE AN ANTI- TERRORISM LAW. DO YOU SUPPORT ENACTING SUCH A LAW?

30 IN LIGHT OF THE ATTACKS ON HOTELS IN AMMAN, DO YOU THINK THAT CURRENT POLITICAL REFORM EFFORTS WILL BE:

31 WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TODAY: TO MAINTAIN THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY OR TO PROCEED WITH POLITICAL REFORM, OR BOTH?