Elements of Traditional Arab Culture Observed in Jordan - Article Example

? The Arab world has created a distinct identity of its own with a diversified culture, religion and a peculiar lifestyle. Jordan is part of the Arabregion and it respects its traditions and religiously varied populace, subsequently providing for the cultural rights of all its residents. The liberal and positive attitude of Jordan is the primary reason behind its flourishing steady and serene cultural climate. Jordan is dominated by the Arab culture with 98% of its population being Arabs – 92% being Muslims and 6% Christians – and the rest 2% belonging to other castes (Chmidt, n.d). In this paper, we shall discuss various aspects of the Jordan culture which will enlighten us about this country’s social, economic, religious and political scenario. Elements of Traditional Arab Culture observed in Jordan Jordan has various elements of the traditional Arab culture indebted in its roots. The bulk of the population being Muslims they believe in the religion of Islam as the other Arabs. Both the social as well as political system of this region follows the extended patriarchal family structure where the Sheikh or head of the family is chosen on the basis of their lineage, wealth and the will of their personalities. According to the system, the eldest son of the Sheikh succeeds to the throne after his father’s death. Even today in Jordan, the camel breeders are considered to be on the supreme level in the society as per the traditional Arab culture. Moreover, they follow the old Arab custom of marrying a person from within the family since anyone outside their clan is considered to be inferior by the traditional clans. Although the Jordanians are much more liberal in their thoughts as compared to the other Arab countries, still they are very conservative regarding women’s clothing. The traditional Arab culture where women are required to cover themselves from head to toe as well as wearing of veils is still mandatory in Jordan. In addition, the practice of the separation of sexes is virtually followed in all the places in Jordan till today (Chmidt, n.d). Extent of Influence of Westernization and Modernization on Traditional Arab Culture Lot of changes has occurred in all aspects of the Jordanian society under the influence of Westernization and Modernization. Even though the Arab culture endorses the highest level of conservatism, Jordan is far more broad-minded especially where women are concerned who enjoy considerable liberty as compared to women in other Arab countries. The female gender enjoys the freedom to complete education, the right to vote, to drive cars and often hold vital positions in business and politics. In the urban areas, women enjoy greater equality and freedom than in the past, though the traditional practices still dominate their lives. Furthermore, Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol as per Islam however it is available in most of the restaurants and pubs in Jordan. Moreover, the growing number of educated urban youths has started believing in individualism preferring to set up their own households instead of residing with their parents. This has led to the shift in the trend from extended families to nuclear households in this country. In addition, westernization has led the Jordanian youths to alienate from their traditional cultures (The Library of Congress Country Studies, 1989a). Cultural Sensitivities of the Country As we know that Jordanians are far liberal than their neighbors but they do have certain reservations which visitors needs to keep in mind when they are touring this country. They are conservative where women’s clothing is concerned; all the local women are supposed to wear attires which cover their arms, legs and hair. Though western women and tourists are not subject to so much restriction but very revealing clothes are never apposite and conventional clothing is advisable for both men and women in Amman and outside the cities. Moreover, topless bathing is barred and one piece swimsuits are recommended although two piece swimsuits can be worn at hotel pools. Visitors should remember that public display of love between opposite sexes is not much acceptable in the Arab countries though in Jordan it is considered a bit usual for friends to hold hands despite of their gender. The Jordanians are firm believers of their religious so respecting it and adhering by its rules is one of the most important things a visitor should keep in mind. For example, one should always remember to remove his/her shoes before entering a mosque. The separation of sexes is apparent in every place in Jordan as in other Arab countries for instance, there are separate sitting places for men and women even in a bus and these norms need to be strictly followed by the tourists too (The Jordan Tourism Board, n.d). Role of Religion in Jordan Religion is part and parcel of every aspect of the Jordanian society and both Muslims and Christians are united by a common religious legacy. According to Jordanian’s mind set every person has a religion and one must follow it unconditionally. They have difficulty in accepting people who have not realized the value and importance of God in their lives. The existence of God in every sphere of Jordanians life is highly reflected in the very phrases that organize social exchanges whether its greetings, accepting gifts, and leave takings; all include expressions wishing the blessings of God. Every Muslim answers to the greetings, “How are you” with “Alhamdulillah:” which itself means thanks be to God thus emphasizing His presence even in the basic responses. The word “Inshallah,” which means if God wills it, is imperative in every sentence spoken about the future, from the speculation of a marriage to whether the bus will come on time. Expressing the phrase “Ma sha Allah” meaning what God wills is necessary when speaking about positive things which may about a child’s report card or winning of a soccer game. It is deemed necessary to thank God for what he has bestowed, to realize that all things that happen depend on his will (McDaniel, 2011). Important of Islam in the Lives of Jordanians Islam is the state religion of Jordan and the Islamic values form the base of the Jordanian legal system, and set standards of decency and ordering in public place. For example, the Islamic inheritance law states that a woman is entitled to only half the amount what a man can inherit and this law is applied to all Jordanians despite of religion. Furthermore, Islam’s emphasis on the separation of sexes is reflected in every nook and corner of Jordan; from where people sit on the bus to how they meet their future spouses (McDaniel, 2011). However, despite having a strong identification with Islam, certain religious practices of some segments of the Jordanian society are somehow opposing to the teachings of Islam. The Jordanians don’t hold God responsible for all the happenings in their life but believe that in situations which could be handled by them, God expects them to work diligently. Some of them have also accepted the existence of Baraka’s or saints who hold special quality of personal holiness and affinity to God though Islam preaches that ‘God is one and that no being resembles him in sanctity’. However it cannot be denied that since the 1980’s there has been growing efforts to spread the importance of Islam in Jordan especially by women. The Jordanian women emphasized modest clothes which covered them from head to toe with the belief that it helps them in gaining more respect from the opposite sexes outside their homes (The Library of Congress Country Studies, 1989b). Positive and Negative Impact of Religion Socially, Politically and Economically Religion has some positive as well as negative influence on the social, economical and political aspects of Jordan. As far as social life is concerned, the separation of sexes continues till today, due to which women are still considered inferior to men. Increased religious observance led to Ramadan being followed in a much stricter fashion; all public eateries are closed down and no alcohol is served or sold during this period and those caught smoking or drinking are reprimanded by the police. Moreover, the country’s laws are also based on Koran and Habit, which are enforced in the religious courts. These courts are responsible for giving jurisdiction over personal matters. For example, a woman is necessitated to maintain chastity before marriage and a male relative might feel obligated to kill her if he founds that the woman’s chastity has been compromised. And when such cases are put before the religious courts, they often drop the charges or the killer is given a short sentence. Such an injustice is definitely not a positive impact of religion. In politics, the system of patriarchal heads still exists as per the preaching of Islam. After the death of King Hussein, his son Abdullah II took over the reins. He has the authority to exert considerable power over the government and even appoints the Prime Minister (Chmidt, n.d). Since the constitution of Jordan allows freedom of religion, its effect over the economy is not much visible except during the period of Ramadan. During this period there is a steep rise in the demand for food products leading to rise in inflation levels. Moreover, restaurants, pubs, and alcohol sellers have to face huge financial losses since they are closed down in the month of Ramadan. However, the economy also enjoys a boost as Jordanians have been found to go on a shopping spree during this time (Tarawnah, 2007). Impact of the Political System and Ruling Party on Jordan in Terms of Social, Religious, and Economic factors Politics play a vital role in the life of the Jordanians. All major decisions whether it’s political, social or economic are taken by the king. The economy of Jordan progressed with limited success till the 1980’s due to political instability. However, soon after King Hussein adopted the diversification policy and improved its relations with U.S, EU and the Gulf countries, the economy started moving upwards. The support, increased economic help and enhanced trade provided by the foreign countries played a big role in stabilizing the economy of Jordan. Therefore, even after having a low GNI/per capita it has shown a strong economic growth and its currency Dinar is stronger and more convertible than the other Arab currencies (Javedanfar, n.d). Since 1989, the Jordanian’s political continuum has been aiming to provide Jordan ‘with a greater democracy, liberalization and consensus building’. This has led to better empowerment and participation of the citizens in civic life. This step will in turn lead to improved stabilization and institutionalization which will prove to be very advantageous for the country in future (Regional Health Systems Observatory, n.d, pp.14-15). Though the country is moving towards democratization, it is still conservative as far as religious matters are concerned. In order to maintain political stability, the government had begun to promote a moderate form of Islam, denouncing fanatical and intolerant forms. Since the 1980’s, government regulated television channels has been regularly showing the King and his relatives attending the Friday prayers and show time of religious programs has been increased. However, it cannot be denied that Jordan is far more liberal in its religious beliefs when compared to other Arab nations (Cline, n.d). The Standard of Living and Cost of Living in Jordan Jordan is a country which has shown tremendous improvement in terms of living conditions of its populace, despite of a troubled past and scarcity of natural resources. It belongs to the group of lower-middle income countries and is one of the world’s 10 most water-poor regions. The GDP was estimated to be 4700$ according to Jordan's Department of Statistics and 13% of the population were termed unemployed in 2008. Though its GDP is steadily moving up but it has been facing grave poverty and unemployment problems. According to indexes, between 15% and more than 30% of the population live below the poverty line (Regional Health Systems Observatory, n.d, pp. 10-11). The housing conditions are however satisfactory, with the majority of the people living in forms of apartments, dars, and villas; home ownership being also widespread. However, some of the dwellings are in poor conditions with 3 or more persons residing in a single room, especially in refugee camps and some urban areas. There has been a marked rise in education as well as in literacy rates and in measures of social wellbeing too. In addition, the health sector has seen rapid expansion with around 80% of adults characterizing their health as good or very good. In conclusion, it can be said that the rate at which the government is working on the economy it will not be days before Jordan will join the category of high income groups (Pederson & Hanssen-Bauer, 1998). Investments in Key Infrastructure Made in Jordan The government is making extra efforts to improve the infrastructure of the country. The efforts made to decrease energy dependency by expanding the services of renewable energy which includes utilizing the region’s uranium oil shale deposits and solar and wind powers is worth noting. Multimillion dollars are being invested to upgrade major airports – Queen Alia International Airport is undergoing a 550 million USD rebuild project since 2008 which will expand its capacity from 3 million passengers to 9 million; King Hussein International Airport is being equipped with the latest technologies with an investment of 15 million USD and; the Royal Jordanian Airlines became a member of the One World Alliance in 2007. The road connections of Jordan are well developed linking it to all its neighboring countries. Moreover, the Ministry of Public affairs has initiated a 25 year project with an investment of more than 1.8 billion USD for further development of roads. As far as railways are concerned, a huge plan to build an entirely new standard-gauge railway network has been prepared by the Jordanian government. Moreover, a light railway BOT project estimated to cost 330 million USD has been initiated by the government which will cater to 90,000 passengers daily with prompt and frequent trips. The telecommunication industry of Jordan is ultra modern with a very competitive mobile and internet background. It has made a massive growth of broadband and wireless networks with a mobile penetration rate of 78% and complete access to internet. In addition to these infrastructures, the government is also hugely investing in building skyscrapers, mega malls, towers, official buildings in the capital city of Amman as well as other regions (Jordan Investment Board, n.d). Work Cited Chmidt, D. AS. (n.d). Culture of Jordan. In Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Jordan.html Cline, A. (n.d). Jordan: Islamic Revival. In About.com: Agnosticism/Atheism. Retrieved from http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/countries/bl_JordanIslamRevivial.htm Jawedanfar, M. (n.d). Jordan: Political snapshot. In Meepas: The Middle East analyzed. Retrieved from http://www.meepas.com/Jordanpoliticalsnapshot.htm Jordan Investment Board. (n.d). Infrastructure. In Jordan Investment Board. Retrieved from http://www.jordaninvestment.com/BusinessandInvestment/Infrastructure/tabid/1140/lang uage/en-US/Default.aspx McDaniel, M. (2011, Oct. 28). The concept of honor unites religions in Jordan. In Berkley center for religion, peace and world affair: Georgetown University. Retrieved from http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/letters/the-concept-of-honor-unites-religions-in- jordan Pedersen, J., & Hanssen-Bauer, J. (1998, Oct. 14). Living conditions in Jordan at the eve of the century [PDF document]. Retrieved from FAFO Online Website http://www.fafo.no/ais/middeast/jordan/livingconditions/LCSJordanMainResults.pdf Regional Health Systems Observatory-EMRO. (n.d). Socio Economic Geopolitical mapping [PDF document]. Retrieved from Health System Observatory-EMRO Online Website http://gis.emro.who.int/HealthSystemObservatory/PDF/Jordan/Socioeconimic%20factors .pdf Tarawnah, N. (2007). The Ramadan Effect. In Jordan Business. Retrieved from http://www.jordan-business.net/magazine/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=1888&Itemid=40 The Jordan Tourism Board. (n.d). Values and Traditions. In Visit Jordan. Retrieved from http://na2.visitjordan.com/visitjordan_cms/GeneralInformation/ValuesTradition/tabid/60/ The Library of Congress Country Studies: CIA World Factbook. (1989a). Jordan: Changing Social relations and values. In ITA. Retrieved from http://www.photius.com/countries/jordan/society/jordan_society_changing_social_rela~3 19.html The Library of Congress Country Studies: CIA World Factbook. (1989b). Jordan: Islam in Social Life. In ITA. Retrieved from http://www.photius.com/countries/jordan/society/jordan_society_islam_in_social_life.ht ml Read More