The Jordan Times
By JT


AMMAN-HRH Princess Basma has highlighted the Jordanian experience in relation to the interactions, process of adjustment and long-term consequences of hosting three distinct forced migration groups.

The princess spoke about this experience last Wednesday in an address, titled Forced Migration to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: Burden or Boon, at Oxford University′s Refugee Studies Centre, as part of the annual Harrell-Bond Lecture Series, according to a statement from her office.

Princess Basma, who holds a doctorate in development studies from Oxford University, discussed the long-term impact of hosting forced migrant groups, drawing on her own experience as a development advocate and practitioner.

Based on Jordan′s experience as host to three distinct communities that arrived in the Kingdom as forced migrants Circassians, Chechens and Armenians the lecture explored the ways they have been able to integrate, while maintaining their specific identities, and demonstrated their numerous contributions to the country.

Princess Basma noted that the choice of the three communities for discussion was based on the fact that their forced migration took place over a century ago, providing a sufficient period of time to review and analyse adjustment, contributions, outcomes and gains, the statement said.

Also of interest, she said, was how-unlike other refugee groups that arrived in Jordan these three communities had no kinship base or roots in the Kingdom prior to their arrival, which made their initial plight, subsequent adjustments, and the mutually beneficial outcomes that grew between them and the local inhabitants all the more striking.

The princess recounted how many of these forced migrants brought with them skills, and infused human capital endowments from their home countries.

She added that, equally, the gains Jordan reaped from this would not have been achieved without the hospitality and openness of Jordanian people and institutions, combined with the readiness of the refugees to integrate and invigorate the fabric of the country.

Beginning with the reign of King Abdullah I, founder of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to King Abdullah II, our present day monarch, the Circassian ceremonial guard at the Royal Court have worn their traditional dress.

Despite the severe challenges that presented themselves to Jordan with every new wave of refugees, Princess Basma said she upholds the view that the more remarkable outcomes are the ones that to a great extent have made the country what it is today: a nation and a society that have undergone widespread transformations, due to the interaction of the different ethnicities who have sought and found refuge within its borders; and where with time those who were once refugees have in turn become hosts to subsequent arrivals.

While the focus of the princess address centred mainly on the forced migrations of Circassians, Chechens and Armenians, and their impact on the evolution of Jordan, she underscored her belief that their endeavours and sense of belonging have not been forged in isolation, but in combination with the dynamic role of other larger refugee communities of Arab origin, which have all played their part.

In conclusion Princess Basma pointed out that equally important has been the political will in Jordan to uphold a policy of openness and inclusion for all its citizens.

Essentially, no achievement can be greater than the evolution of Jordan itself, both as a country and nation, whose commitment to upholding its ethnic, religious and cultural diversity forms its foundations.

The Refugee Studies Centre was founded in 1982 as the world′s first institution for the study of refugees. Its mission is to build knowledge and understanding of the causes and effects of forced migration in order to help improve the lives of some of the world′s most vulnerable people, the statement said.

The Harrell-Bond lecture has been held annually since 1986 in honour of Dr Barbara Harrell-Bond, a leading figure in the field of refugee studies and the centre′s founding director.