Racialized hierarchies among asylum seekers in Jordan: restrictions of non-Syrian refugees' right to work

Non-Syrian refugees in Jordan are victims of a racialized system of assistance that privileges asylum seekers from Syria due to the visibility of the conflict. This discrimination affects the ability of non-Syrian refugees to obtain a work permit and therefore earn a living. Welcoming attitudes towards refugees have become structural elements of Jordanian culture, conferring Jordan the reputation of a refugee-friendly nation in a turbulent region. This thesis aims to analyse the shortcomings of Jordanian hospitality and therefore give visibility to the precarious living conditions of non-Syrians, with a specific focus on the limitations of their right to work. The research also underscores the connected legal shortcomings and explores the condition of ‘refugees’ as potential agents of development. The role of the international community in acknowledging this racialized hierarchy among refugees is also addressed. Finally, we discuss the peculiarities of each refugee community and concrete solutions provided at the local level.