Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Jordan. Challenges and Obstacles

Table of Contents

A Climate Change-Induced Risks for Ecological and Human Systems – An Overview

B Environmental NGOs in Jordan: Challenges and Obstacles. An Analysis Inspired by Grounded Theory

B. I Relevance

B. I.1 Environmental Situation in the Middle East

B. I.1.a) Water Scarcity

B. I.1.b) Land Degradation

B. I.1.c) Marine and Coastal Degradation

B. I.1.d) Air Pollution

B. I.2 General Challenges for the Levant

B. I.3 Filling a Research Gap

B. II Selecting the Case – From Macro to Micro

B. II.1 Selecting Environmental NGOs in Jordan

B. II.2 Macro Level

B. II.3 Meso Level

B. II.4 Micro Level

B. II.5 Purpose and Possible Critique of the Case Selection

B. III Creating the Basis for a Grounded Theory

B. III.1 Introducing and Integrating Grounded Theory

B. III.2 Framework for Generating a Grounded Theory

B. III.3 Describing the Interview Questionnaire

B. III.4 Initial Coding

B. III.5 Sampling and Advancement of Initial Codes

B. III.6 Focused Coding

B. III.7 Sampling and Advancement of Focused Codes

B. IV Correlating the Results with the Hypotheses

B. V Generating the Theory for this Analysis

B. VI Limitations of the Analysis and Theory

B. VII Conclusion

C Recommendations for Future Research

Objectives & Scope

This thesis investigates the challenges and obstacles faced by environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Jordan, with the goal of understanding how governmental regulations and international organizations impact their efficacy. Utilizing a methodology inspired by Grounded Theory, the research aims to generate a micro-theory regarding the operational hurdles of these organizations in an environment characterized by high vulnerability to climate change and complex socio-political dynamics.

• The vulnerability of the Levant to environmental degradation and climate change.
• The role and limitations of environmental NGOs in filling governmental gaps.
• Barriers to operational success, including funding constraints and lack of cooperation.
• The complex influence of governmental regulation and international organizations on local NGO activities.

Excerpt from the Book

Chapter Summary

A Climate Change-Induced Risks for Ecological and Human Systems – An Overview: Summarizes the IPCC’s warnings regarding the uneven distribution of climate change risks and emphasizes that vulnerability depends on dynamic socio-economic factors, specifically highlighting the high vulnerability of developing countries.

B. I Relevance: Explains the necessity of focusing on the Levant due to its severe environmental degradation and unique regional challenges, justifying why this area requires a dedicated analysis.

B. II Selecting the Case – From Macro to Micro: Outlines the selection process for Jordan’s environmental NGOs as the research case, bridging macro, meso, and micro levels to provide a structured framework for the subsequent analysis.

B. III Creating the Basis for a Grounded Theory: Introduces the methodological application of Grounded Theory, details the interview questionnaire used for data gathering, and explains the two-step coding process.

B. IV Correlating the Results with the Hypotheses: Compares the empirically generated results from the coding process against the three original hypotheses to verify their validity within the context of the study.

B. V Generating the Theory for this Analysis: Presents the resulting substantive micro-theory, highlighting the core challenges NGOs face from both the government and international bodies.

B. VI Limitations of the Analysis and Theory: Acknowledges constraints in data reach, limited sample size, and the lack of memo-writing as factors affecting the scope of the study.

B. VII Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, reiterating that while environmental NGOs perform essential work in Jordan, they remain hindered by systemic obstacles that necessitate increased regional and international support.

C Recommendations for Future Research: Suggests that further longitudinal and mixed-methods research, focusing on policy developments and private sector roles, is essential for advancing the understanding of environmental NGOs.

Keywords

Jordan, Grounded Theory, Climate Change, NGOs, Qualitative Research, Environmental Degradation, Water Scarcity, Sustainable Development, International Organizations, Middle East, Levant, Socio-Political Dynamics, Policy Analysis, Land Degradation, Capacity Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this Master's thesis?

The thesis explores the challenges and structural obstacles encountered by environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating within Jordan, specifically in the context of a highly climate-vulnerable region.

What are the primary thematic fields examined in the work?

The research examines climate change-induced risks, the environmental situation in the Levant (water scarcity, land degradation), and the systemic barriers created by government regulations and the operational frameworks of international organizations.

What is the primary objective of this research?

The goal is to answer the research question of whether and how the Jordanian government and international organizations create obstacles for local environmental NGOs, ultimately generating a micro-theory about these relations.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The study is conducted using a qualitative approach inspired by Grounded Theory, involving a two-step coding process of interview data collected from various environmental stakeholders in Jordan.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The main body moves from a macro-level environmental overview to a micro-level analysis of NGO experiences, detailed through data coding, theoretical sampling, and the correlation of results with pre-defined hypotheses.

Which keywords best describe the research?

Jordan, Grounded Theory, Climate Change, Environmental NGOs, Sustainable Environment, Policy Barriers, International Cooperation, and Qualitative Research.

How do international organizations influence local environmental NGOs according to the thesis?

The research indicates that while international organizations provide essential funding, they often lack sufficient awareness of local realities, exhibit rigid bureaucratic flexibility, and create dependency chains that can hinder the development of smaller national organizations.

What specific role does the Jordanian government play regarding environmental NGOs?

The government acts as a major barrier through stringent regulation, mandatory approval processes for foreign funding, and strict monitoring of activists, which limits the scope for independent political or environmental activism.

Why is Jordan considered a particularly critical case for this study?

Jordan is highlighted due to its extreme water scarcity, desertification, and its role as a cluster for international organizations dealing with regional conflicts and environmental pressures, making it a critical hub for analyzing NGO performance in the Levant.

What is the significance of the "two-step coding process" used by the author?

This process—initial and focused coding—allowed the author to abstract raw interview data into meaningful categories, which were essential for generating the thesis's micro-theory regarding the operational realities of NGOs.