ABSTRACT
The Middle East—the land of contrasts and ancient civilizations and the crucible of ideas—remains to this day an arena for the conflict of ideas and the confrontation of armies. Peace remains an illusion, a desert mirage, seemingly close at hand but impossible to grasp, indeed making the area a place of missed opportunities and lost chances. Whether the opportunities were missed by design, whether the continued misunderstanding is deliberate, and who bears the responsibility are other questions altogether. It is an unfortunate historical coincidence that Arab and Jewish nationalisms came to fruition at about the same time. Both are wounded, though for different reasons and circumstances, and both seem unable to come to grips with the realities of their situation and the changing configuration of world power and politics. Despite the turbulence and vicissitudes -of Arab politics, and regional instability, Jordan has continued to adhere to its centrist pragmatic approach.
