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1 The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan History Jordan is a land steeped in history. It has been home to some of mankind's earliest settlements and villages, and relics of many of the world's great civilizations can still be seen today. As the crossroads of the Middle East, the lands of Jordan and Palestine have served as a strategic nexus connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Thus, since the dawn of civilization, Jordan's geography has given it an important role to play as a conduit for trade and communications, connecting east and west, north and south. Jordan continues to play this role today. Because of its centralized location, the land of Jordan is a geographic prize which changed hands many times throughout antiquity. Parts of Jordan were included in the dominions of ancient Iraq, including the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian and Mesopotamian Empires. From the west, Pharaonic Egypt extended its power and culture into Jordan, while the nomadic Nabateans built their empire in Jordan after migrating from the south of the Arabian peninsula. Finally, Jordan was incorporated into the classical civilizations of Greece, Rome and Persia, the relics of which are scattered across the Jordanian landscape. Since the mid-seventh century CE, the land of Jordan has remained almost continuously in the hands of various Arab and Islamic dynasties. The second geographical factor which has helped shape the history of Jordan concerns climate. Only the northern highlands and the Jordan Valley have received enough rainfall to support large populations. Therefore, this area has always been more settled by farmers, villagers and townspeople. Most of the urban civilizations of Jordan have been based in these fertile lands. To the south and east, meanwhile, there is very little rainfall and no rivers for irrigation. These desert areas, which comprise the majority of Jordan, have rarely supported large settled populations. In some periods, there appears to have been no settled population at all. The lifestyle of the Bedouin inhabitants of these desert lands has remained similar in some respects to that of their Edomite or Nabatean predecessors. The contrast between the pastoral "desert" and agriculturally fertile lands is particularly pronounced in Jordan, and much of the area's history can be linked to population shifts between large urban centers and more dispersed, nomadic tribal groups. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with representative government. The reigning monarch is the head of state, the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The king exercises his executive authority through the prime minister and the Council of Ministers, or cabinet. The cabinet, meanwhile, is responsible before the elected House of Deputies which, along with the House of Notables (Senate), constitutes the legislative branch of the government. The judicial branch is an independent branch of the government. Government Since 1989, all elements of the Jordanian political spectrum have embarked together on a road to greater democracy, liberalization and consensus building. These reforms, which were guided by the late King Hussein, have placed Jordan on an irreversible road to democratization. The result has been greater empowerment and involvement of everyday citizens in Jordan’s civic life, contributing to increased stability and institutionalization which will benefit the country far into the future The government has undertaken short, medium and long-term programs aimed at increasing economic growth through the enhancement of productivity based on positive social development through the expansion of an already advanced physical and human infrastructure. The programs emphasize both public and private sector involvement and partnership, and the growth of international and inter-regional trade, strategically managed within a framework of sustainable development. 3 12/05/2017 2 In April 1989, Jordan signed a five-year structural readjustment package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the goal of restoring sustainable growth, curbing inflation, stabilizing the Dinar's exchange rate, and reducing internal and external financial imbalances. The first phase of the economic reform program resulted in a strong positive turnaround in the country's economic performance. However, the program was interrupted due to the Gulf Crisis of 1990-91 and its aftermath, as Jordan became faced with a challenge to act quickly in order to deal with sudden, sizable imbalances in the economy. The second phase was designed to deepen and expedite the reform process. In October 1991, the government concluded a new seven-year economic adjustment program with the IMF, designed to improve Jordan's balance of payments, reduce inflation, shrink the public sector's share of GDP and boost real GDP growth. In addition, a five-year economic and social development plan for 1993-97 was drafted as a tool for a new developmental strategy. The plan designated a major role for the private sector, and confined the role of the government mostly to infrastructure-related projects that are essential for stimulating private investment. Jordan implemented a plan designed to rectify imbalances and bolster the long-term stability of the Jordanian economy through the following: redefining the role of the state and enhancing the role of the private sector; encouraging export-oriented investment and production as the primary vehicle for economic growth; limiting the expansion of liquidity and money supply; stabilizing the exchange rate of the Dinar; reducing the level of foreign debt to GDP; increasing the attractiveness of Dinar-denominated savings over other currencies; increasing Jordan's foreign currency reserves to cover imports for at least three months; shifting revenue generation from an income-based to a consumption-based tax scheme to encourage saving and investment, while eliminating taxation on investments and savings; removing market distortions that may arise from price-fixing agreements and monopolies, reducing and restructuring subsidies and dismantling trade barriers; providing incentives for savings and investments, and encouraging foreign investment; liberalizing the flow of trade and capital while actively pursuing regional and global integration; and, addressing the social dimension of development through systematic plans for the alleviation of the twin problems of poverty and unemployment. The forthcoming third phase builds upon past accomplishments to further consolidate and expand the reform programs. These programs, which will also be underscored in Jordan's forthcoming National Economic and Development Strategy, will add momentum to the ongoing plans. Human statistics® Because of its modest natural resources, Jordan has focused on developing its human potential. Turning necessity into virtue, the Kingdom has bolstered its economic and social viability by advancing the well-being of its citizens. Jordan has long concentrated on improving its educational and health standards, thereby strengthening a rising tide which lifts not only the Jordanian economy—due to a skilled and healthy labor force—but also the general quality of life for all citizens of the Kingdom. In spite of the daunting political and socio-economic challenges it has faced as a result of turmoil in the region, Jordan has made rapid strides in developing its greatest asset—its people. This focus on human development stems not only from geographical 3 12/05/2017 3 and economic necessity, but also from the late King Hussein’s firm conviction that people need to be given the chance to pursue a better tomorrow for themselves and future generations. This emphasis on qualitative change in peoples' lives has been the main driving force behind the Kingdom's social and economic development The Balance Sheet © Over the past two decades, Jordan’s basic health indicators have improved greatly. Life expectancy at birth now stands at 68 years, up from the 1986 figure of 64 years. In 1965, the average Jordanian could only expect to live to age 50. A contributing factor to the rising average lifespan has been the reduction in infant mortality rates. According to UNICEF statistics, between 1981 and 1991 Jordan achieved the world's fastest annual rate of decline in infant mortality—from 70 deaths per 1000 births in 1981 to 37 per 1000 in 1991, a fall of over 47 percent. Moreover, the decline in infant mortality has not stopped. According to Jordan’s Ministry of Health, the figure fell even further in 1996 to only 32 deaths per 1000 births. The spread of adequate sanitation and potable water, improvements in dietary intake, accessibility to advanced and affordable health care, improved pre-natal care and childhood immunization programs are some of the primary factors which have combined to lower infant mortality rates and raise life expectancy. The success of Jordan’s health care system is therefore a major reason for the high natural rate of population growth. While average fertility levels have actually declined—from 7.3 in 1984 to 4.6 in 1996—a higher childhood survival rate means more Jordanians entering marriageable age. Table 1 Health Indicators Life Expectancy (1996) 68 Infant Mortality Rate (1996) 32 per 1000 births Physicians Per Capita (1996) 16.5 per 10,000 persons Nurses Per Capita (1996) 25 per 10,000 persons Dentists Per Capita (1996) 4.9 per 10,000 persons Hospital Beds Per Capita (1996) 17.6 per 10,000 persons Source: Ministry of Health, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 3 12/05/2017