Since the founding of the Jordanian state, a precise equation has been formed that has maintained its cohesion in a turbulent region, with steadfast constants and flexible variables interacting together to preserve stability and to open windows for possible development. Nations are not only measured by their ability to endure, but by their ability to adapt intelligently without compromising their essence, and in this context, Jordan has presented a model worthy of reflection.
The Jordanian constants are represented in a system of values and supreme interests that are not subject to the changes of governments nor to the pressures of political moments; at the forefront are constitutional legitimacy and the Hashemite monarchy, the open Arab-Islamic identity, moderation and balance as an approach in governance and policy, commitment to the Palestinian cause and rejection of alternative homeland projects, and the preservation of the unity and security of the society. These constants have formed the reference framework that provided the state with internal consistency and external credibility, and reinforced trust between the society and governance institutions, which reflected as political and security stability in a crisis-ridden environment.
In contrast, Jordan realized early on that stagnation is not a virtue, and that variables are necessary for managing reality. Changes in economic policies, updating legislation, developing diplomatic tools, and restructuring public administration, all these variables were subject to the equation of national interest within the framework of the constants. This flexibility enabled the state to absorb major regional shocks, to adapt to changes in the global economy, and to manage limited resources with political and economic rationale.
The impact of this equation on stability is clear; the constants granted the state immunity, and the variables provided it with the ability to move. Regarding development, the challenge was more complex, as stability alone is not enough for growth, but it is its first condition. Hence, Jordan's efforts to enhance sustainable development, linking it to political and administrative reforms, and achieving a balance between social justice and market demands, in light of a realistic understanding of geographical constraints and resource scarcity.
In the end, Jordan's experience confirms that nations that properly define their constants, and manage their variables with a balanced mind, are capable of continuing and progressing, albeit slowly but calculatedly. Constants are not constraints, and variables are not concessions, but together they are tools of wise governance when managed within a clear national vision. In a world where transformations are accelerating, this equation remains the most important political capital for the Jordanian state in its journey towards permanent stability and possible development.
