The Reproduction of Ethnic Identity in Jordanian Society: An Implementation of Structuration Theory

Abstract

This study aims at revealing whether ethnic minorities in Jordan are still reproducing their ethnic identity. The study focuses on five mechanisms of ethnic identity reproduction which were derived from Anthony Giddens's structuration theory: The recognition of ethnicity as frame of reference, Ethnic Socialization, Ethnic Relationships, Motivations of Ethnic Agent, and Ethnic Language. The sample of the study included (496) young males and females at the age of (20-25) years old who belong to five ethnic minorities: Circassians, Chechens, Armenians, Druze, and Kurds. The results showed that ethnic minorities in Jordanian society are still reproducing their ethnic identity obviously, but some mechanisms of the reproduction, specifically, the language and the relationships were declined comparison with the other mechanisms of reproduction. In addition, the results showed that there are minor differences among the minorities in the Ethnic identity reproduction ; the Druze minority occupied the highest level of the of ethnic identity reproduction, followed by, Armenians, Circassians, Chechens, and in the lowest level, the Kurds.