Jordan’s Niche Diplomacy: Reframing Middle-Power Agency in the 21st-Century Middle East

This study analyzes how the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has converted structural vulnerability into diplomatic capital through the strategic practice of niche diplomacy. Despite its limited material power, Jordan has emerged as a resilient middle power that leverages credibility, moderation, and institutional resilience to sustain its influence in a turbulent regional environment. Focusing on three interrelated domains—regional mediation, water diplomacy, and refugee governance—the article demonstrates how Amman transforms constraints into strategic assets. By institutionalizing trust-based mediation, reframing water scarcity as a platform for cooperative innovation, and integrating humanitarian commitments into foreign policy, Jordan exemplifies the fusion of moral authority with pragmatic statecraft. The analysis contributes to middle-power theory by illustrating how small states can redefine influence through specialization, normative entrepreneurship, and consistent engagement. Ultimately, Jordan’s experience shows that in a fragmented Middle East, stability and credibility constitute enduring sources of diplomatic power.