ARDD study seeks to address emigration of Jordanian youth

AMMAN — The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) this week launched a new paper titled “Regional Responses Regarding the Integration of Europe’s Recently Arrived Arab Diaspora/Shataat" to address the difficulties facing the new Arab Diaspora. 

The paper is the third in a perspective series published as part of ARDD's efforts to address the issue of Jordanian youth's emigration and shed light on what Jordanians who are hoping to emigrate might face abroad. 

In the series’ second paper titled "Jordanian Youth and Their Decision-Making Processes Regarding Their Future", ARDD cited the Arab Democracy Index survey conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies (2018-2019), which showed that 45 per cent of Jordanians are considering migration.

In the series’ third paper, ARDD calls for increased participation of civil society entities of the Arab region in promoting the integration of Arab newcomers in European countries in a way that does not diminish their identity and cultural heritage and contributes to combating exclusion, racism and xenophobia.

The paper also touches on the difficulties faced by newcomers in Europe as a result of alienation from their families and local policies forcing them to abandon their cultural identities and assimilate to host communities rather than integrate and enrich them.

ARDD highlighted how Jordan is safe for its own citizens and is a better haven for refugees in spite of its limited resources, attempting to demonstrate that emigration might not bring the desired stability and peace that many Jordanian youth expect. 

However, there is the possibility of a positive transition, the paper showed in a review of the Antaga Project, which is sponsored by ARDD as part of its efforts to build bridges of dialogue, with the aim of supporting Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Sweden.

The Antaga Project demonstrates both refugees' positive participation in their communities in Sweden through cultural activities and their ability to simultaneously preserve their cultural identity to prevent further dispersion of their families and alienation from their heritage.

Ultimately, the paper stresses the importance of cooperation and exchange of experiences among regional organisations, particularly in regards to cultural context and societal backgrounds.

Moreover, it shows how this cooperation further develops intercultural and intra-cultural dialogue, raising the awareness of both migrants and host populations concerning the need for collaborative efforts in achieving cultural enrichment and social cohesion.