Al-Quds Center is an independent think-tank that is not affiliated to any partisan agency. It was established in Amman in 1999 and in Beirut in 2012 with the aim of providing a deeper and more accurate understanding for the challenges that political reforms and democratic transition face in Jordan and Arab countries. The Center is also aimed at consecrating “equal citizenry” values as they are the source of rights and duties; disseminating the culture of dialogue, tolerance, respect of pluralism and recognition of the presence of others; promoting the principles of freedom, justice, and the rule of law being the rule governing the modern state relation with its citizens, and the regional and international relations. The Center works, as well, on expanding political participation of citizens and operationalizing civil monitoring of government and parliamentary performance. It promotes freedom of the press and independence of the media as well as enrooting the “right to know” and access to information.

Methodologically, the Center conducts research and explorative and survey-based studies as well as reports and policy papers. It establishes specialized “monitors” and gives special attention to training the party cadres, civil society organizations, and youth and women movements. It helps build institutional capacity for these agencies and develop internal democratic practices among them. It assists them in building coalitions, alliances, and networks while developing their advocacy and lobbying capacity tapping into the best regional and international experiences so that they can achieve their objectives.

Since its inception, the Center has been keen on supporting the socio-economic reform process, institutionalizing the social dialogue, increasing the political parties’ involvement in this process, building capacity of business associations with special attention to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), increasing women participation in the labor market and business sector, strengthening the private sector role in socio-economic development, and promoting the values of social justice.


Early in its stride, the Center conducted studies on the phenomenon of “Political Islam” that has spread in most countries of the Middle East and North Africa. This attempt has been based on the assumption that no democracy can be achieved apart from the Islamists and that no democracy can be achieved without embedding the civil-democratic component in the modern Islamic movements”. The Center has been keen on supporting reform directives within these movements, promoting dialogue and interaction among the several political, intellectual and social schools in order to build national consensus being a pre-requisite for a smooth and secure transition to democracy.

Since its inception, the Center started a special program to explore the regional trends and their impact on the region future especially the Palestinian Cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict. It has been tracking the pertinent development of regional and international strategies, and their impacts on the rights of nations to development, welfare, freedom, democracy, and self-determination.

Al-Quds Center for Political Studies has been keen, since its inception, on covering the national scope (Jordanian) and regional (Middle East and North Africa). It depends on a wide network of relations and alliances with other think tanks, civil society organizations, activists and intellects in this region. It believes that there are many commonalities among countries in the region; which enables them to exchange experience, maximize benefits and common stakes. In order to serve its regional programs and activities, Al-Quds Center for Political Studies launched in 2011 its branch in the Lebanese Capital- Beirut in the capacity of an independent Lebanese, not-for-profit think tank. It handles the same programs and seeks to achieve the same objectives.


By virtue of this early recognition of the importance of group and joint work, Al-Quds Center for Political Studies has, successfully, launched a number of local and regional networks and coalitions. These include, inter alia: The Democratic Reform and Change in the Arab World; the Arab Civil Network for Parliamentary Monitoring”; and the Civil Coalition to Reform Media Legislation- IFSAH [DISCLOSURE]. These networks include hundreds of activists, civil organizations, intellects and academicians. The Center is member in several international and Euro-med networks that operate in the domains of interest for it and its programs.

Programs of Al-Quds Center for Political Studies The Center works on four main programs:

1- The Political Reform and Democratic Transition Program; it considers the challenges to transition to democracy in Jordan and the Arab countries. The Program is based on seven pillars:


Political Parties.
Reform of electoral processes and monitor of elected parliaments’ performance
Press and Media Freedom
Trade Unions and Civil Society Organizations
Citizenry of Minorities and their Rights
Promoting Woman Rights; Participation and Representation
Promoting Youth Public Participation

2- Socio-Economic Reform Program
3- Program of “Political Islam Studies
4- Program of Regional Conflict Studies