• The Socio Political Implications of the Syrian Crisis on Jordan

What is it about?

The Syrian refugee crisis is considered one of the largest, longest, and most complex humanitarian crisis in the 21st century. Statistics show that more than 12 million Syrians have fled to a number of Arab and Western countries since June, 2011. The number of refugees in Jordan exceeded 1.4 million, which is equivalent to 14% of Jordan's population. With the increasing number of refugees in Jordan, the country also faced an increase in the pressures it had originally, due to the scarcity of resources, which, in turn, has created many economic and social problems, such as: poverty, unemployment, deficit in the state’s budget, and an additional pressure on the health and education infrastructure. The increasing wave of Syrian refugees has also led to significant political effects, such as: the decline of the democratic process, an increased threat to Jordanian national security, and the fear of terrorist attacks on Jordan, which requires more security measures and expenditures, especially in vital and gathering areas in Jordan. The waves of Syrian refugees and asylum seekers have also played a role in imposing a threat on the Jordanian national identity, increased the rate of violence and extremism, increased corruption, and imposing a threat on the social fabric of Jordan with many unethical social practices, such as: drug trafficking, begging, and prostitution, which are all alien to the Jordanian society. Finally, this rising wave of Syrian immigration to Jordan has also led to several environmental problems.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The tragedy of the Syrian refugees represented one of the dimensions of a widespread political crisis in the Arab world, and it raised many difficult questions at the academic level. Political demography also came to the scene in an attempt to explain this phenomena; not only because the crisis requires finding appropriate solutions, but because of the implications of the issues and problems of re-settling the refugees, and its (the Syrian refugee crisis) impact on development, political stability, and community reconciliation in the countries sending and receiving refugees. As known, each study has a scientific and practical importance it tries to provide. This study’s importance shows through its usefulness to everyone concerned about the effects and consequences of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan, and it includes; decision makers, opinion leaders, researchers, academics, and students, 1. On the theoretical level, the study deals with the issue of the Syrian refugee crisis and its various effects on Jordan, and it explains the international community's position on the crisis, as a humanitarian crisis that does not concern the Jordanian state alone . The study also deals with the crisis of Syrian refugees in Jordan in an organized and scientific manner based on facts and figures. 2. On the practical level, this study is not only a descriptive analysis of the concepts and dimensions of the problem, but it aims to reveal the effects of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan by determining the relationship between the crisis and the political situation in Jordan throughout the period of study( 2011-2017). The study will then subject that to analysis to identify whether the crisis was a challenge to Jordan and negatively affected the country, or if it was an opportunity for Jordan to benefit from? 3. Both theoretically and practically, this study’s importance stems from revealing the dimensions and implications of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan in its positive and negative aspects, thus turning the general theoretical debate, which is not scientifically proven, into scientific facts that are tested with evidence and proof , to make the right decision through the right scientific debate, away from improvisation, speculation, or provision.