Migrants and Resources as Challenging Factors in Fighting Covid-19 in Jordan: Social Exchange Perspective

Abstract

In contrast to neighboring countries, Jordan initially succeeded in mitigating the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this privileged situation was short-lived as Jordan eventually became one of the worst-affected countries globally. This paper examines the dynamics of Jordan's response to COVID-19 through the lens of Blau's theory of exchange and power in social life. It explores the exchange process amongst the government, migrants and the Jordanians, highlighting how the government exerted maximum control over people's movements and gatherings. Despite these efforts, the government failed to meet people's expectations of safety and basic needs, leading to a loss of trust and the spread of misinformation. The inability to maintain control over gatherings and movements resulted in a surge in cases. This analysis underscores the importance of transparency, trust, awareness, and collective efforts in effectively combating pandemics.