Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
This study explores the role of narratives in the construction of Jordanian national identity and examines how Palestinian-Jordanians are included or marginalized within these narratives. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of symbolic power and cultural capital, the paper analyzes interviews with eight individuals ranging from academics to policymakers to civilians alongside literary sources. The findings reveal a state-sponsored identity centered around Hashemite legitimacy and Bedouin heritage, contrasted by more inclusive social attitudes especially among urban and younger populations. Interviewees spoke about a significant divergence between national unity as portrayed by state institutions and the lived experiences of Palestinian-Jordanians, whose identities remain fluid in everyday life.
Recommended Citation
Skweres, Nina, "The Architecture of National Identity in Jordan: Historical Narratives, State Power, and the Question of Belonging" (2025). Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East. 2.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/jor2/2