King Hussein and the Challenge of Arab Radicalism: Jordan, 1955-67

When Hussein took the throne in 1953, the prevailing view was that he would not last long. As the head of a socially conservative, pro-Western state, he seemed poorly placed to resist the rising forces of pan-Arab radicalism. Yet the monarchy endured and has continued to play a vital role in Middle Eastern politics.

Uriel Dann explores the political history of the formative years of the Jordanian state, from 1955 to 1967. He uncovers the sources of its durability against forces that sought to change the traditional bases of Arab politics. The book is a study of how one monarchy held its ground in a turbulent region.

It is part of the Studies in Middle Eastern History series and will interest historians and students of Middle Eastern politics.