Magid has produced a well-written account of the life of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, from his upbringing in Britain and the United States, followed by his years of service in the British and Jordanian armies, to his quarter century on the throne of the Hashemite kingdom. His impressive and illuminating biography, based on extensive research, draws on 100 interviews with a broad range of Jordanians, former U.S. officials, and individuals who interacted with Abdullah over the years. It also incorporates archival material and a wealth of relevant secondary sources.
The author suggests that Abdullah, as a result of his upbringing and education, is “the most American king.” Indeed, American life and culture deeply influenced him to the point that even after all these years as king, many Jordanians still see him as somewhat of an outsider.
Magid justifiably provides extensive coverage to Abdullah’s investment of time and energy in cultivating Jordan’s obviously crucial ties with the United States. Yet this section of the book, as well as chapters on other foreign policy issues, comes at the expense of a more detailed analysis of Jordan’s domestic politics.
The troubled relationship between the king and the original Jordanians, the “East Bankers”—the historical backbone of the Hashemite regime—is mentioned throughout the book. Given its critical importance, however, this relationship deserves a chapter of its own. Abdullah’s economic reforms, which required cutbacks in government spending, mainly hurt the East Bankers, who were traditionally more dependent on government employment and welfare than their Palestinian compatriots. Though justified, these reforms eroded the unwritten social contract between the East Bankers and the monarchy under which economic security was exchanged for loyalty. The reforms also formed part of the background to the unprecedented rupture in 2021 between King Abdullah and his half-brother Prince Hamzah, who was very popular among the tribes of the East Bank.
Magid devotes a fine and enlightening, though at times somewhat superficial chapter to a comparison between Abdullah and his father, Hussein. In particular, he considers Hussein more inclined than Abdullah was to resort to military force. But these differences between father and son owed more to historical conditions than to individual personalities. Yes, Hussein joined forces with Egypt and Syria in the war of June 1967, but he did so for numerous reasons arising from the exigencies of the moment. The conflict with Syria in 1970 resulted from Syria’s decision to invade Jordan, not from Hussein’s preference for war. Hussein stayed out of the October 1973 war. Fortunately for Abdullah, by the time he became king in 1999, the regional context had changed dramatically as a result of the treaties that Jordan and Egypt had signed with Israel.
Magid is a little careless with Arab names. Thus, for example, Ali Abu Ragheb is referred to as Ali Abul Raghreb or Ali Abdul Raghreb; Laith Shubeilat as Laith Shulibat; Abdel Majeed Dhniebat as Abdul Majid Thuneibat; and Murad Adielah as Murad Adaeileh.
All in all, despite some flaws, The Most American King is a highly valuable contribution for scholars and the general public alike.
Asher Susser
Tel Aviv University
