Narrative, as a contemporary term, has been expanding within cultural and political discourse. It is no longer merely a fleeting linguistic expression, but has become a framework for understading, shaping awareness, and formulating identity. In the Jordanian context specifically, the Crown Prince's directive to write the Jordanian narrative underscores the need to reread the national story in a new language that responds to the transformations of time, the aspirations of youth, and the challenges of the modern state. Here, the narrative is not simply a literary project, but a project of awareness, memory, and a path to the future. It is an attempt to reorganise the nation's story so that it is read in a way that keeps its roots firmly planted, while also allowing for its renewal and interpretation according to the needs of the moment.

 

The distinction between the terms "narrative" and "novel" lies in recognising the nature of language as a living, evolving entity, which causes concepts to change and take on broader forms over time. The novel, in its traditional usage, is a defined literary work with a beginning and an end, characters and events, a temporal and spatial framework, and an imaginative structure that shapes a human experience into an artistic form. Narrative, however, is far broader; it is the framework encompassing a large number of diverse, partial narratives that share a general objective or overarching meaning. While the novel is a single text, narrative is the system in which numerous texts harmonize to form a comprehensive vision. Therefore, it has become common to say that every era has its own terminology and image, and that narrative has become the term that unites politics, culture and identity simultaneously.

 

In this sense, the national narrative expands to include multiple narratives: the narrative of state-building, the narrative of the army, the narrative of development, the narrative of popular participation, the narrative of the Hashemite family throughout its historical journey, and the narratives of society in all its diversity and richness. All these elements are not scattered tales, but rather parts of a single narrative that reveals Jordan's trajectory from its founding to the present moment. This is what makes the narrative a general umbrella, while the individual narratives remain partial manifestations within that umbrella. The aim of a narrative is to produce a shared meaning that people can grasp, while a novel focuses on presenting the details of a specific experience.

 

What the Crown Prince is saying in this context goes beyond mere administrative directives; it is a call for a deeper understanding of national identity. The Jordanian narrative that needs to be written today is not a mere repetition of traditional discourse, but a conscious formulation that evokes the achievements of the past, analyzes the challenges of the present, and envisions the future. It is a narrative that gives space to new generations, allowing their experience and participation to become an integral part of the national story. It is also a narrative that recognizes that the modern state needs a discourse that connects identity and innovation, constants and openness, historical narrative and contemporary consciousness.

 

One of the important elements of the concept of narrative is its flexibility and breadth. It is not a fixed template, but an ongoing process that is written, discussed and developed over time. Therefore, the Jordanian narrative is not a finished project, but a continuous process of construction. This is what makes it more dynamic than rigid or closed narratives. A narrative allows for a plurality of voices within a single framework, while a novel may remain confined to a single perspective or experience. This is why narrative is closer to the spirit of contemporary society, which experiences a multiplicity and diversity of sources of knowledge and discourse.

 

However, it must be noted that narrative is not an open-ended text; it is a project with a shared goal and vision. A national narrative is written to strengthen belonging, clarify the path forward, solidify trust in the state, and affirm society's ability to confront challenges. Hence the importance of precision in its formulation, because it is not merely concerned with recounting past events, but with constructing meaning that connects the past and the present. Narrative is not simply history being told, but rather an interpretation of history that imbues it with value and makes it a foundation for the future.

 

The evolution of terminology confirms that language itself is part of the narrative. With each decade, new concepts emerge, reflecting social, economic, and political transformations. Today, narrative reflects the era's need for a comprehensive framework for self-understanding, given the fragmentation of information and the proliferation of individual accounts. Therefore, the term has gained prominence because it combines thought and discourse, providing society with a means to reinterpret itself more comprehensively.

 

Within this framework, the project of writing a Jordanian narrative becomes a collective effort involving intellectuals, youth, institutions, and the local community. It is not an elitist endeavor, but a shared process aimed at creating a national language that reflects people's daily experiences and highlights the unique character of the nation. A successful narrative is one that persuades, inspires, and motivates, not one that is merely written on paper. It allows diverse accounts to be part of the overall story without negating one another.

 

The fundamental difference between a narrative and a novel lies in the fact that a narrative is "single, with a unifying vision," while novels are "multiple, with individual experiences." A national narrative is not a negation of diversity, but rather its organisation. It is the overarching picture that contains a number of smaller pictures, each complementing the others without contradicting them. This is where its strength lies: it is capable of encompassing multiplicity without losing its unity.

 

Ultimately, it can be said that the Crown Prince's directive to write a Jordanian narrative is a step towards reproducing national discourse in a way that resonates with the spirit of the times. This underscores the importance of Jordan having a single narrative that encompasses all its stories, and a comprehensive vision that embraces all its narratives, ensuring that national identity remains firmly rooted yet constantly renewed. In this sense, the narrative becomes a national project, not merely a textual one, and a broad umbrella for multiple narratives, all united in service to the nation and its ongoing journey.

 

Hasan Dajah is a professor of strategic studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University