Climate Diplomacy from a Neoclassical Realist Perspective: The Jordanian Model

Abstract

This study aims to model Jordan’s climate diplomacy in light of neoclassical realism (NCR) theory as it uncovers how domestic and systemic factors shape Jordan’s multilevel strategy, in addition to testing the hypothesis that Jordan’s multilevel strategy combines local, institutional and national factors as part of its climate diplomacy. The data collected from various sources hypothesize that the multilevel climate response of small-income countries overlaps in a national and international way. The study found that Jordan’s act of internationalism is a systematic, long-term strategy that can play at various stages, and all levels have welded with one another in a spider’s web succession. Internationalism can be observed in Jordan’s active participation in mitigation-related activities through the Paris Agreement and the Green Climate Fund. NCR has proven to be a sound method to analyze the Jordanian case. The unique determinants and solutions for the case provide new ways to think about coping with climate change. At the same time, the central finding highlights the significance of future research on the role of domestic politics and external environmental conditions in shaping behaviour and in the international negotiations process in general. It contributes to the relevance of NCR in climate diplomacy. It expands its usefulness from the interest-based explanations of countries’ foreign policies in the international system to a broader scope of realism.