How are we to understand the historical context of the refugee situation in Jordan? What are the conditions that existed long before the current situation and how have they impacted on the ways Syrian refugees have been received and incorporated into their neighbouring country? And what are the most likely future scenarios?

In this interview, Dawn Chatty, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Forced Migration, unpacks how cross-border ties and networks make the situation in Jordan special. Chatty explains how this legacy persists and continuously shapes not just the past but also the present predicament. A central viewpoint that Chatty offers is that Syrian youth need to know their past – their heritage – in order to move towards the future. Similarly, Chatty sees education as key to personal and collective flourishing but has found that, with access to education restricted, Syrian youth have had to find pragmatic approaches to life and livelihoods.