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ANCIENT LAND 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/62/193-201
Negotiating Cultural Exclusion: Experiences and Coping Strategies of Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Ola Majthoub
Abstract. This study investigates cultural exclusion as experienced by Syrian refugees in Jordan, focusing on how exclusion is produced in everyday social interactions and how refugees respond to it. A qualitative research design was used, based on face-to-face, in-depth interviews with 13 Syrian refugees residing in Mafraq Governorate who were recruited through snowball sampling. The interviews explored participants’ relationships with the host community, experiences of acceptance and rejection, and coping strategies. Descriptive qualitative analysis was used to organize and interpret the accounts thematically. The findings show mixed experiences of coexistence. Some participants described hospitality, cooperation, and meaningful exchange with Jordanians, whereas others reported social distancing, discrimination, limited interaction, and exclusion linked to nationality and perceived cultural differences. Participants frequently relied on Syrian social networks, silence, conflict avoidance, selective withdrawal, and emphasis on shared religious identity as coping strategies. The findings suggest that cultural exclusion is not a uniform condition, but a dynamic process shaped by social boundaries, interaction contexts, and unequal power relations. The study contributes context-specific evidence from Mafraq and highlights the importance of policies and community initiatives that promote sustained, meaningful interaction between refugees and host communities.
Keywords: Syrian refugees, cultural exclusion, Jordan, social integration, marginalization, intercultural relations, social identity
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