Indigenous Hardiness Structures and State Formation In Jordan: Towards a History of Jordan's Resident Arab Population

"In this paper I take up the question of why ethnic solidarities continue to persist in many parts of the world today, with the consequence that ethnic conflicts also continue to occur. On the basis of insights gained from archaeological research in Jordan, I posit the evolution in Jordan - and in many societies around the world - of "indigenous hardiness structures" which, due to their combined effect, are inherently corrosive and dissolving of state-level polities? Such structures have attained great strength and resilience in countries like Jordan because of almost four millennia of foreign domination and exploitation of the indigenous population. Examples of such structures mentioned include the following practices and institutions: tribalism, multi-resource economic pursuits; maintenance of fluid homeland territories, residential flexibility; low-care water sourcing; hospitality and honor."