JORDAN AND THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ARAB COOPERATION COUNCIL

This article examines Jordan's role in the creation of the Arab Cooper ation Council (ACC), from its origins to its sudden demise in the turm oil of the 1990-91 Gulf crisis and war. The analysis focuses on three key factors in Jordan's foreign policy, namely, the concern with exter nal security threats, rite pressures of domestic politics, and the eco nomic constraints on the Jordanian regime, This study suggests the nee d to move beyond standard military-security explanations of inter-stat e alliance dynamics and take into account die influence of domestic po litics and political economy on policy-makers. It also demonstrates th e continuing tension between state sovereignty and pan-Arab agendas fo r greater economic integration.