The Impact of Syrian Refugees on Jordan: A Framework for Analysis

Wa'ed Alshoubaki, Tennessee State University

Abstract

The civil war in Syria has caused a mass influx of Syrian refugees all over the world. Jordan has received a large share of Syrian refugees, now reaching an alarming number. The presence of Syrian refugees drains Jordan, as it is a vulnerable state with limited resources. In an effort to better understand the impact of the humanitarian crisis and the challenge to the Jordanian government, this study examined the impact of Syrian refugees on the total public expenditure and the spending of the health care sector and public education in a step toward assessing the burden of Syrian refugees on the Jordanian government. Alongside that, a comprehensive analytical framework was developed to explore the impact of refugees on receiving states. Particularly, it goes on to provide evidence from Jordan to describe the effect of Syrian refugees’ presence on Jordan as a receiving state. This study utilized quasi-mixed designs as research strategies: quantitative analysis of governorate-level data and systematic reviews of gray literature and peer-reviewed articles. It concluded that the presence of Syrian refugees has increased the public spending at the expense of the public investment projects in northern and centered governorates that received more refugees. The analytical framework addressed the political, economic, sociocultural, and environmental impact of Syrian refugee adoption in Jordan. The analysis has resulted in a better capacity to discover the potential consequences of a massive refugee influx, including vital factors that contribute to shaping refugees’ burden and formulating policies based on specific critical arenas that need more attention and resources in response to the influx of the refugee crisis.

Subject Area

Near Eastern Studies|Public administration

Recommended Citation

Wa'ed Alshoubaki, "The Impact of Syrian Refugees on Jordan: A Framework for Analysis" (2017). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI10635866.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI10635866

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