Last week, Jordan witnessed the launching of the Economic Modernization Vision,
representing a national roadmap across sectors to be implemented in three
phases over the coming 10 years. And while this approach is not novel for
Jordan, the aftermath of the launch revealed some necessary steps that must be
taken to ensure the gap between citizens and policy is bridged.
اضافة اعلان
Within less than
24 hours of launching the economic plan, vague statements by two ministers
emerged regarding increasing the prices of fuel four consecutive times in the
coming months. The most intriguing statement was that of the Minister of
Interior, a stranger to the economic file, who contradicted relevant statements
during a meeting with a group of investors in Al-Hassan Industrial Estate in
Irbid.
Contradicting
statements by representatives of different sectors are definitely not leading
Jordan towards bridging the aforementioned gap. This situation can well explain
the ineffectiveness many of these policies can bring, which leads to
frustration and high levels of pessimism among the people in Jordan. The
government’s narrative and the following policies should always be
comprehensive and clear, not provocative and contradicting.
Lack of harmony
and understating by those who are supposed to be targets for the policies is
unfortunate and not acknowledged Yet, it is the reason behind the prevailing
negativism and pessimism, especially given that policies should aim at
generating positive perceptions among the people
The path towards
enhancing the sense of responsibility and optimism among the people while
preparing them for imminent hardships can be achieved through a. national
narrative that is convincing and aided by a change in both the implementation
of the public policies and in the conduct of the public figures. In addition,
the people must be part of the solution without suffering continuous financial
and physiological pressure.
Right now, it is beyond any doubt that having a comprehensive long-term strategy that addresses all aspects of Jordanian lives — including microeconomic reforms and enhancing critical thinking skills amongst the population — is of utmost importance.
It is time for the
people to feel their government’s support, understanding, and tolerance during
these difficult times when people are suffering from the devastating impacts of
both COVID-19 and the Ukrainian-Russian war. An approach to contain people’s
anger and frustration, which might develop soon into widespread protests, is
needed.
Right now, it is
beyond any doubt that having a comprehensive long-term strategy that addresses
all aspects of Jordanian lives — including microeconomic reforms and enhancing
critical thinking skills amongst the population — is of utmost importance.
That said, it is
essential to underline personal follow-up and review facts and deeds rather
than intentions and words. It is crucial for the government to adopt a clear,
comprehensive action plan with concrete steps that positively impact people’s
daily lives. It is equally important for the government to reach the people
through smart communication means while having all the protagonists of the
political scene embrace synchronized language and approach.
The writer is a Jordanian university professor and
geopolitical expert. He is a leading columnist in national, regional, and
international media, offers consultancies to think tanks and speaks at
international conferences on Middle East politics and developments.
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