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Workshop on 'Jordan's Position in the Arab World - Internal and external Challenges', March 19 - 20, 2016 in Madaba / Jordan
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a pivotal role in ensuring security and stability in the region. To build a true vision on the situation and to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining the security of the country the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung in cooperation with the 'Arab World Center for Democratic Development - UniHRD' carried out a workshop for young people from all over Jordan to discuss 'Jordan's internal and external challenges' in the context to its role in the region.
Jordan's role is extensive. Jordan is continuing with its diplomatic and political efforts, in coordination with key world players, to bring a permanent end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; Jordan calls for an inclusive political process in Iraq that preserves the country's unity and engages all components of the Iraqi people. With regard to the Syrian crisis Jordan roles to arrive at a comprehensive political solution that ends the suffering of the Syrian people, highlighting the growing burden as a result of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees. The gulf between Jordan's position and that of Iran on a number of issues is vast, even if the two countries have a similar stance regarding the war on the Islamic State (IS), but Jordan is aware that Iran cannot be ignored. On the other hand Jordan's stance on the armed Shia militias in Iraq, backed by Iran, is not very far from Saudi Arabia's. Furthermore Jordan's role of fighting against extremist groups who carry out terrorists attacks that threat the stability in the region and in Jordan is outstanding.
These subjects as well as the relations to Israel and the role of Jordan to protect the holy sites in Jerusalem were discussed during the workshop.
The political, social, economic and cultural challenges for Jordan in light of the instability and turbulences in the region are huge. The small country has so far weathered the 'political storm' since 2011, however emerging challenges have the potential to develop into serious threats to the stability of the Kingdom. While Jordan's moderate political culture is a strong mitigating factor, the risk of domestic instability is greater today than in any time before.
The main external sources of instability are the Syrian crisis including possible military entanglement in the border zone, the spread of Salafist radicalization, the heavy costs of sustaining the large number of refugees and the potential interference inside Jordan of Islamist movements from other regional countries. Internal sources of instability may be rising public anger resulting from economic austerity, dissatisfaction with political reforms and too little action against corruption. While external threats pose significant challenges, the most serious danger is when these threats catalyze or exacerbate domestic instability.
The participants agreed that the challenges confronting Jordan require authorities to cooperate with one another. The country's stability and fortitude can only be the result of citizen's awareness as well as the joint effort of state institutions, army and security bodies.
And of course the youth can take over an important role in overcoming challenges. A precondition is the ability of the youth to distinguish between constructive opposition and positive movements on the one hand, and negative opposition with empty slogans on the other hand, which do not serve the reform path. To respect freedoms, to deal with all cultural, religious and different political views are necessary for peaceful coexistence and stability of the country.