Building Social Resilience in Jordan: The Role of Formal and Informal Networks in Crisis Response

This panel aims to clarify the state of social resilience in Jordan, which has been under prolonged crisis due to multiple complex issues arising from regional instability and challenges. These include ongoing conflicts in neighboring countries such as the Gaza crisis from October 2023, and the wider impacts of conflicts in the region, especially those affecting key Jordanian economic sectors. Additionally, the continuing and intense mass influx of refugees and displaced persons from Palestine, Syria and Iraq, placing significant pressure on Jordan’s limited resources, public services, and infrastructure. Compounding these challenges and the devastating spread of the COVID-19 infection and its long-lasting economic effect. This research addresses these issues by focusing on both the formal and informal distribution of resources to understand how Jordan is managing these multifaceted pressures.
Despite these serious crises, Jordan has maintained a remarkable level of stability in both the state and society. Previous studies have focused on explanations for this resilience, such as the strategic and adaptive governance and policies of the hereditary royal family. However, in reality, it has also been observed and reported that informal resource allocation has been frequently carried out by various sectors of society rather than the state alone. This informal support network, comprising family, tribal, shared territorial bond and religious connections, has often acted as a parallel safety net.
In response to these observations, this panel discuss on the empirical research through fieldwork and public opinion surveys which were conducted by joint research with local research institutions. It will examine two specific activities that have not been fully analyzed until now: formal governmental reform and resource allocation and informal resource allocation through religious organizations such as Islamic mosques, Christian churches and domestic and international NGOs which play important roles and impacts on social welfare in Jordan. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of both state and community efforts to distribute resources in times of crisis and to better grasp how resilience is maintained in Jordan.