Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh
In his call for optimism, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh urged us to look ahead with hope, embracing positivity to cut through the fog of negativity and frustration. He challenged us to replace cynicism with purpose and to move beyond symbolic gestures to realigning Jordan’s priorities. And while optimism is a necessary spark, it must be backed by concrete steps. Without action, optimism risks becoming mere anesthesia, numbing us to the reality that Jordan is teetering on a precipice—plagued by stagnation, mired in stalled development, and burdened by leaders too hesitant to commit to a cohesive, national project.
For over a decade, we’ve drifted without a unifying vision to propel Jordan forward. The unemployment rates, the poverty figures, the stalled reforms—they speak of a country struggling to develop, grappling with the absence of an economic model that can deliver true progress. As the philosopher Noam Chomsky once stated, “There is no such thing as a poor country; there are only countries that fail to manage their resources.” Jordan, unfortunately, has become a sobering case in point.
This crisis runs far deeper than a change of faces in government. The problem is not in our people or their heritage; it lies squarely in the hands of leadership that has either lacked the will or the ability to confront the nation’s challenges with honesty and bold action.
Countries across the globe have shown us that transformative progress is possible—even with minimal resources. The story of Singapore, rising from an isolated island with no resources to one of the wealthiest nations, should serve as an example. After being expelled from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew did not despair. His government, driven by integrity and competence, ensured that every dollar served the nation. Today, Singapore boasts an annual per capita income of $60,000 and a thriving $600 billion economy.
Jordan, too, can achieve great heights if we adopt a similar approach, one grounded in uncompromising accountability, genuine transparency, and unwavering commitment to development. This requires a government with full authority to tackle national challenges—a government free from internal division and political compromise. Jordan’s leadership must overcome the entrenched habit of side-stepping accountability in favor of passing responsibility across “multiple references.”
It’s time for a national project with teeth, one that will not only curb inflation and government spending but build a non-rentier economy that generates jobs and curtails extreme poverty. We need to commit to measurable goals, build strategies founded on accuracy—not inflated numbers—and implement economic reforms that actually address our intertwined crises. Education, a resource critical for sustainable development, must become a top investment priority, alongside better crisis management and a commitment to reducing debt dependency.
Reform, however, is not a simple matter of implementing new policies; it requires radical change. Stop recycling shallow political gestures, stop promoting public acceptance through short-term appeasements, and instead, push for real, surgical reforms that pave the way for enduring change. Reform has a price, yes, but we must either pay for meaningful change now or pay for the cost of remaining trapped in this endless cycle of stagnation.
Indicators today reflect a stark reality: Jordan’s development is ensnared by randomness and inconsistency, plans and policies that are largely contradictory or forgotten altogether. Hundreds of bound and dusty development packages sit idle, mere remnants of bureaucratic dreams, clashing against one another in their flawed foundations and growth assumptions. Until we ground our planning in realistic productivity measures and laws that support true economic growth, Jordan will remain caught in the vicious cycle of loans and foreign aid dependence.
Jordan’s future demands more than just positive thinking; it demands boldness, courage, and immediate, decisive action. As the President’s own posture suggests, there may be a personal resolve to chart a new course. But the question remains: will our leaders and hidden power structures allow this? We are at a breaking point, and the time for mere promises is long past. Let us be optimistic, yes, but let our optimism be the kind that inspires a tenacious drive toward a Jordan that no longer merely survives but thrives.
Al Batayneh was a member of the Jordanian Parliament.
