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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with journalist and author Aaron Magid about his major new biography The Most American King, an in-depth exploration of King Abdullah II of Jordan and his quarter-century on the throne. Magid draws on more than a decade of reporting and over one hundred interviews with Jordanians, U.S. officials, and regional figures to unpack how Abdullah has maintained his rule through a combination of strategic alignment with Washington, careful political calibration at home, and the enduring stability of Hashemite monarchy amid Middle Eastern turmoil.
In this conversation, Magid discusses Abdullah’s unique personal background—including his Americanized upbringing, fluency with U.S. politics and culture, and unusual pop-cultural references—and how these shaped his political style and foreign policy choices. We dive into Jordan’s pivotal role in U.S. Middle East strategy, the kingdom’s complicated position between Israel and the Palestinians, and the often-overlooked internal dynamics of Jordanian society: economic stagnation, youth frustration, corruption, tribal politics, recurring but stunted reform cycles, and the Muslim Brotherhood’s fraught relationship with the state.
We also explore Magid’s comparison of Abdullah with his father, King Hussein; the political implications of the 2021 Prince Hamzah affair; the Pandora Papers leaks and corruption in Jordan; King Abdullah approach to Israel/Palestine and the Gaza War; and the carefully managed public rollout of Crown Prince Hussein as the next monarch. Ultimately, the discussion interrogates the core tension of Abdullah’s legacy: a king celebrated abroad for moderation and stability, yet presiding over persistent domestic challenges and an increasingly weary public.
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