Editing Abdullah II of Jordan (section)

====Arab Spring 2010–2014====
The [[Tunisian Revolution]] in December 2010 (which unseated that country's president) brought Egyptians into the streets, and by January 2011 they overthrew president [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref name="fofam">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/world/middleeast/ali-abdullah-saleh-strongmen.html|title=Five Strongmen, and the Fate of the Arab Spring|date=4 December 2017|access-date=7 January 2018|author=Rick Gladstone|work=The New York Times|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233935/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/world/middleeast/ali-abdullah-saleh-strongmen.html|archive-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> Protests in other Arab countries soon followed, resulting in civil wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen.<ref name="fofam" /> In Jordan, opposition groups including the Muslim Brotherhood, leftists, and retired army generals protested throughout the country.<ref name="tas" /> By 1 February 2011, domestic unrest prompted Abdullah to sack [[Samir Rifai]]'s government and pledge to follow a democratic trajectory.<ref name="tas" />

[[File:Jordan protests November 2012.PNG|thumb|upright=1.3|right|alt=Large street demonstration, with speakers addressing the crowd|16 November 2012 [[Arab Spring]] demonstration in Amman against a later-revoked government decision to cut fuel subsidies]]
The [[2011–12 Jordanian protests]] were driven by complaints about a troubled economy: soaring prices, widespread unemployment and a relatively low standard of living.<ref name="tas" /> Although some called for an end to the monarchy, most protesters' anger was directed at politicians viewed as undemocratic, corrupt and unaccountable.<ref name="tas" /> Demonstrators called for the dissolution of the parliament which had been elected three months earlier in [[2010 Jordanian general election|November 2010]], when pro-regime figures won a majority of seats.<ref name="tas" /> The Jordanian monarchy was the first Arab regime to offer political concessions during the Arab Spring.<ref name="tas">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/jordan/8296589/King-Abdullah-II-of-Jordan-sacks-government-amid-street-protests.html|title=King Abdullah II of Jordan sacks government amid street protests|access-date=14 February 2017|date=1 February 2011|work=The Telegraph|first=Adrian|last=Blomfield|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702040342/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/jordan/8296589/King-Abdullah-II-of-Jordan-sacks-government-amid-street-protests.html|archive-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> [[Marouf Bakhit]] was appointed prime minister, but protests continued throughout the summer; Bakhit was seen as a conservative unlikely to push for reform.<ref name="nytak" /> Dissatisfied with the pace of reform, Abdullah sacked Bakhit's government and appointed [[Awn Khasawneh]] to form a cabinet.<ref name="nytak">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/world/middleeast/king-abdullah-ii-of-jordan-fires-his-government.html|title=Government of Jordan Is Dismissed by the King|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 February 2017|date=17 October 2011|first=Ranya|last=Kadri|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214102742/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/world/middleeast/king-abdullah-ii-of-jordan-fires-his-government.html|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> Khasawneh abruptly resigned in April 2012, and the King appointed [[Fayez Tarawneh]] as interim prime minister; it was the third government reshuffle in 18 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/26/jordan-prime-minister-awn-khasawneh-resigns|title=Jordan's prime minister suddenly quit|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 February 2017|date=26 April 2012|first=Ian|last=Black|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214175611/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/26/jordan-prime-minister-awn-khasawneh-resigns|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref>

In November 2012, the government cut fuel subsidies, driving up prices.<ref name=oxbiz /> The decision, later revoked, triggered large-scale protests across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-20357743|title=Political and economic problems fuel Jordan protests|work=Dale Gavlak|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 January 2018|date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514095408/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-20357743|archive-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> The regime calmed the unrest by introducing reforms, amending about one-third of the constitution and establishing a Constitutional Court and the [[Independent Election Commission (Jordan)|Independent Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/king-abdullah-jordan-reform-protests.html|title=King Abdullah Seeks to Champion Jordanian Reforms|work=Osama Al Sharif|publisher=Al Monitor|access-date=7 January 2018|date=18 March 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109121815/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/king-abdullah-jordan-reform-protests.html|archive-date=9 January 2018}}</ref> Abdullah called for an early parliamentary election and appointed [[Abdullah Ensour]] to form a cabinet of intermittent government.<ref name="ajki" /> In the [[2013 Jordanian general election|January 2013 election]], pro-regime figures were victorious as opposition groups continued a boycott,<ref name="ajki">{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/201312317511517880.html|title=New parliament elected in Jordan polls|access-date=14 February 2017|date=24 January 2013|publisher=Al Jazeera|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214175540/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/201312317511517880.html|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> with [[Islamic Action Front]] claiming earlier that election was performed in absence of actual opposition.<ref name="ajki" /> Since December 2012, the king has published seven [[White paper|discussion papers]] outlining his vision of democracy and reform in Jordan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kingabdullah.jo/en/vision/discussion-papers|title=Discussion Papers|access-date=22 February 2017|date=29 December 2012|work=kingabdullah.jo|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221215533/http://www.kingabdullah.jo/en/vision/discussion-papers|archive-date=21 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Barack Obama and Abdullah II.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Abdullah and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] in the [[Oval Office]] in Washington, D.C., 26 April 2013]]