This study analyzes Jordan's response to the Syrian refugee crisis through the frameworks of "refugee securitization" and "refugee rent-seeking." Jordan developed a securitization discourse emphasizing economic burden and security threats while establ...
This study analyzes Jordan's response to the Syrian refugee crisis through the frameworks of "refugee securitization" and "refugee rent-seeking." Jordan developed a securitization discourse emphasizing economic burden and security threats while establishing an institutional framework for securing international financial support through the Jordan Response Plan for the Syria Crisis (JRPSC). The Jordan Compact (2016) exemplifies institutionalized refugee rent-seeking by linking refugee work permits, EU trade preferences, and concessional loans. However, implementation fell short of expectations, with EU exports and refugee employment failing to meet targets. International aid fulfillment rates declined, exacerbating refugee poverty and food insecurity. This study demonstrates that economic incentives do not automatically improve refugee welfare and suggests that the humanitarian-development nexus risks commodifying refugees.