We are the very model of a moderate Muslim state: The Amman Messages and Jordan’s foreign policy

Stacey Gutkowski*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)
395 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Despite its significance to one of the most problematic discursive binaries of the ‘War on Terror’, moderation has been a largely taken for granted theoretical and empirical category in the discipline of International Relations. To prompt further conversation, this article examines ‘Islamic moderation’ as part of Middle Eastern states’ nation branding in the decade and half since 9/11, using Jordan as a case study. I argue that while Jordan’s official and state-endorsed civil society efforts to promote ‘moderate Islam’ and interfaith dialogue stem in part from authentic interest in promoting dialogue and peace, the Jordanian Hashemite regime has also used the Amman Messages to deepen political trust with the United States, attempting to instrumentalize the moral authority of religion as a form of state productive power. It has done so by playing on a myth of religious moderation which has resonated in both the Middle East and the West since 9/11.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-226
Number of pages21
JournalInternational Relations
Volume30
Issue number2
Early online date11 Aug 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Amman Message
  • Interfaith dialogue
  • Jordan
  • Moderation
  • Nation branding
  • Political trust
  • War on Terror

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