Jordan’s Struggle Against Corruption: Wasta and Tribalism Pose Major Challenges

Introduction

AMMAN - Jordan, known for its political stability, is facing significant challenges in combating corruption. The cultural concept of “wasta” has created a system where those with good connections can expedite procedures, gain exclusive access to services and information, and even influence legislation to their advantage.

Leadership and Governance

Despite laws criminalizing corruption, the government’s efforts to address the issue have been limited.
Nepotism remains a major problem in Jordan, with high-ranking officials and companies often operating with impunity.
The country has taken some measures to increase transparency, such as publishing its budget online for transparency purposes.

Criminal Justice and Security

Jordan’s civilian courts are viewed as transparent and procedurally sound, but inefficiency has led to a significant backlog of cases.
Authorities do not always follow court orders, and allegations of special interests and nepotism remain a major problem.
The country’s victim and witness protection schemes are ineffective, with numerous shortcomings.

Jordan has various prevention measures in place to prevent organized crime, including distributing anti-trafficking brochures to foreign migrant workers.
However, there are still gaps that need to be addressed, including a lack of follow-up and reintegration programs for victims of human trafficking.
Civil society organizations cooperate with international actors but media freedom continues to be limited.

Economic Challenges

Jordan’s economy is struggling with high levels of debt, unemployment, and poverty, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The informal sector constitutes a significant proportion of the country’s economy due to high taxes, leading to increased taxation pressure on formal sector businesses.
The government has taken measures to monitor financial institutions but challenges persist.

Conclusion

Jordan’s struggle against corruption is complicated by its cultural and tribal systems. While efforts have been made to address the issue, more needs to be done to prevent organized crime and protect victims of human trafficking. The government must increase transparency and accountability and provide support for civil society organizations working to combat corruption.