Drawing Outside the Lines: Jordanian Maps and Contested Identities

The map of Jordan has changed significantly since 1948, both politically and on the ground. Between 1950 and 1967, the West Bank was annexed by Jordan. This was reflected in the Jordanian parliament which included representatives from Palestinian cities in the West Bank. It was also reflected in maps issued by the Jordanian government, specifically in school text-books. In 1967, Israel attacked Jordan and took control of the West Bank. Jordanian maps did not reflect this change and continued to show the West Bank as occupied Jordanian territory. This changed in 1988 when the Arab league recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and Jordan ceded control of the West Bank to the PLO and the future Palestinian state.

These changes in the political and territorial landscape created a conundrum for the Jordanian state. Where does Jordan begin and where does it end? Who is Jordanian and who is Palestinian? This confusion can be clearly seen in official maps such as those presented in school text-books, stamps and touristic maps.

As the official state demarcation of Jordan’s borders changed, so too did the maps, oftentimes to the dismay of the broader population.

The research will study the discrepancies between the official narrative, as visualized through governmental maps and stamps, and the broader public’s understanding of these maps and the borders that they delineate. Through collective mapping practices, drawing, and film, we hope to explore the parallel narratives between different segments of Jordanian society and the state.