JORDAN

Its official language, MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) [i], is most often written and in the news. The spoken dialect is Jordanian Arabic, which is most similar to Shaami (Levantine) [ii]. Jordanian Arabic consists of urban, rural, and Bedouin dialects. Urban Jordanian is heavily influenced by Palestinian Arabic, while Bedouin Arabic is used by the nomadic Bedouin tribes that live East of the Desert Highway, removed from city life. Levantine Arabic Sign Language [iii] is used for the deaf in Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Bedawi [iv], which is a subfamily of Arabic also known as Northwest Arabian Arabic, is mostly reserved for the royal family.

Hospitality is a cornerstone of Jordanian culture. Major events, like weddings and holidays, place the host’s reputation at stake, and are therefore invested in with great responsibility. Arranged marriages [v] are the norm, oftentimes discussed over weeks or months of meetings between the families. Jordanian society is informally hierarchical based on clan/family names, and ethnic background. Job opportunities, education, and marriage prospects are frequently determined by a person’s family identity. Mansaf [vi] is the national dish of Jordan, and stems from Bedouin cuisine. It is composed of rice, sherack (a type of bread), lamb or goat meat, and labneh (a type of yogurt).

Jordan is a Muslim majority country; over 97% of the country identifies as Sunni [vii]. Islam the official state religion [viii]. A separate system of Sharia courts [ix] oversees family and civil matters. The constitution allows freedom of religion, however proselytizing to Muslims is illegal. Christian minorities have a long history in Jordan; Madaba, a city near Mount Nebo, has a number of historic Christian sites and institutions. Public schools are required to teach Islam, however non- Muslim students are able to opt out. Druze also form a religious minority, with less than 1% of the population [x]. Druze communities are concentrated around the Northwestern Mountains.

Jordan is ruled by the Hashemite Royal family as a constitutional monarchy. The National Assembly [xi], the legislature, is divided into two sections. The House of Notables has 65 members each individually appointed by the King to serve 4 year terms. The House of Deputies/Representatives consists of 130 elected members. 15 seats are reserved for women and 12 for Christian, Chechen, and Circassian members. Election turnout has historically been low, with little confidence in the democratic process. Voting results are heavily swayed by a demographic divide [xii] between “East Bank” Jordanians and “West Bank” Palestinians. Palestinians have been disenfranchised with little to no political representation.

Jordan’s economy is among the smallest [xiii] in the region, with little water and few natural resources. Jordan’s economy [xiv] faces increased pressure from the Syrian refugee crisis, having accepted over a million refugees as of 2016. Energy sources [xv] are primarily natural gas imports as Jordan develops dams and nuclear power. National currency is the Dinar, currently valued at 1.41 USD to JD. Unemployment is currently around 19%. The IMF [xvi] estimates describe Jordan as a high government spender relative to economic size, providing stability during unpredictable international events. Tourism is fundamental to the economy, making Jordan particularly vulnerable to global financial downturns.

Founded as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan [xvii] in 1946, Jordan was born out of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I and the creation of the British Mandate after World War 2. The Hashemite family [xviii] has ruled Jordan since 1946 and traces their roots back to the Hejaz in modern day Saudi Arabia. The 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars ended with Israel occupying additional territory, including Jerusalem and the West Bank. Jordan signed a peace accord with Israel in 1994 normalizing diplomatic relations. Since the Arab Spring in 2012, the Kingdom of Jordan has implemented limited democratic reforms.

Almost landlocked, Jordan totals approximately 90 million square miles [xix]. Its single port is located in the City of Aqaba in the very southwestern corner, which leads from the Gulf of Aqaba into the Red Sea. The majority of fertile land and the country’s population [xx] are concentrated in the West and North Western corners. Almost all major settlements are along a western spine of roadways stretching from Aqaba in the south to Irbid in the north. Jordan is primarily arid desert, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the east, Syria to the north, and Israel and the West Bank to the west.