Amman, April 8 (Petra) -- Jordan’s political approach has, for decades, navigated the storms of geography and regional crises, accumulating experience that has led to the development of what experts describe as "strategic resilience" an institutional model that goes beyond conventional crisis response.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), analysts said the kingdom has successfully transformed existential geopolitical pressures into solid foundations, cementing its position as a haven of stability in a turbulent region. They noted that the contours of the Jordanian model became particularly evident during the economic crises of the late 1980s, through successive waves of humanitarian displacement, global health crises and regional security challenges.

Brigadier General Dr. Maisoun Abu Murad said Jordan has maintained internal stability and mitigated the impact of shocks despite limited resources and geopolitical pressures.

She pointed out that during the Syrian crisis, Jordan faced a complex challenge encompassing humanitarian, economic and security dimensions. However, the state’s approach went beyond containment to structured absorption and phased planning, while maintaining domestic cohesion and institutional continuity. This, she said, reinforced the concept of "strategic resilience" as the ability not only to avoid risk but to endure and adapt.

Abu Murad added that the COVID-19 pandemic tested the efficiency of crisis management systems, particularly in terms of media response. Official media played a central role in delivering accurate information in real time without exaggeration or understatement, reflecting an early recognition that crisis management extends beyond executive decisions to include the effective management of information.

She said Jordan’s strategic resilience is not the product of a single circumstance but rather the result of long-term accumulation of experience, institutional development, investment in human capital and the ability to manage crises simultaneously across security, economic and media dimensions. This has enabled the country to confront complex scenarios in a volatile regional environment while maintaining stability and an active role.

Security and strategic expert Bashir Al-Da’ja said Jordan has developed a cohesive crisis management model based on the concept of "national strategic resilience," referring to the ability of the state across its security, political, economic, social and media components to absorb shocks without internal collapse, and to move from resilience to adaptation, improvement and ultimately turning crises into opportunities.

He said this concept has moved beyond theory in the Jordanian case, taking shape through successive regional crises since the early 2000s, beginning with the repercussions of the Iraq war in 2003, followed by the Syrian crisis in 2011 and the spillover of cross-border terrorism, as well as energy and refugee challenges. Citing United Nations estimates, he noted that Jordan has hosted more than 1.3 million Syrians, placing unprecedented pressure on economic and service infrastructure without leading to institutional breakdown a direct indicator of strong "shock absorption" capacity.

Al-Da’ja added that this model reflects the state’s ability to convert a high-threat environment into one of relative opportunity, whether by reinforcing its role as a key pillar of regional stability or by attracting economic and investment support amid the international community’s need for stable anchors in a volatile environment.

He also highlighted the role of the Jordan Armed Forces as a strategic deterrent along the borders, noting that they have developed into a multi-layered advanced defense system. Field data indicates that the northern and eastern borders have witnessed hundreds of infiltration and smuggling attempts in recent years, particularly involving drugs and weapons, which have been dealt with effectively.

On the economic front, Al-Da’ja said Jordan has faced one of the most challenging environments in the region, given limited natural resources, high energy costs and the burden of hosting large numbers of refugees. Despite this, the economy has maintained relative stability in key indicators and achieved encouraging growth rates according to international data, reflecting what he described as a "resilient survival economy" in an unstable regional setting.

He stressed that societal values, along with public alignment with the Hashemite leadership, the armed forces and security agencies, have played a decisive role in strengthening the domestic front. Public awareness, he said, has become an informal pillar of national security, contributing to early risk detection and limiting internal vulnerabilities despite mounting regional pressures.

For his part, Ihab Sawalha, professor of strategic and disaster studies at the American University of Madaba, said Jordan has demonstrated unique national capabilities during the ongoing political and military crisis in the region, reflecting entrenched resilience across all stages of crisis management, including preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

He added that public awareness and adherence to official guidance have formed a cornerstone of the country’s resilience, while mutual trust between government institutions and citizens has supported effective response and responsible citizenship. The state, he said, has viewed the challenges facing Jordan and its people not solely as threats but also as opportunities to enhance experiential learning and situational awareness.

Al-Sawalha noted that recent regional developments have clearly demonstrated the coherence and consistency of response mechanisms across the country, adding that as the pace of the crisis accelerated, Jordan emerged as a model of resilience rather than a victim of the negative repercussions of conflict.

//Petra// AF


08/04/2026 20:34:43