Late Samir Al-Rifai Chair for Jordanian Studies

Vision

Mission

Objectives

• The Late Samir Al-Rifai Chair for Jordanian Studies aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Conduct studies and research related to Jordan from the establishment of the Emirate to the present time.

• Contribute to disseminating knowledge about Jordan's civilizational and historical development since the establishment of the Emirate, and its relations with neighboring countries and global powers.

• Study the lives of Jordanian pioneers, politicians, and prominent figures and their impact on building the Jordanian state.

• Organize conferences, seminars, and workshops related to Jordan and its cultural, social, and economic environment, and its political and regional role.

• Contribute to researching and analyzing the intellectual and political heritage of political leaders and their impact on development and modernization in Jordan.

Development Stages of the Late Samir Al-Rifai Chair

• The Late Samir Al-Rifai Chair for Jordanian Studies was established in 1998.

• The Chair was established with support and funding from Mr. Zaid Al-Rifai, then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yarmouk University, in 1998.

• Professor Dr. Yusuf Ghuwainmeh from the History Department at the University assumed the duties of Chair Professor from 1999 to 2002.

• The Chair was held by Professor Dr. Nizam Barakat from the Political Science Department for one year.

• Since its establishment during the period (1999 - mid-2020), the Chair has carried out the following activities:

• A symposium titled "In Memory of the Great Late" in cooperation with the Jordanian Studies Center, at Yarmouk University in 1999.

• A symposium titled "Jerusalem" in cooperation with the Jordanian Studies Center, at Yarmouk University in 2001.

• Publication of a master's thesis titled "Samir Al-Rifai and His Role in Jordanian Politics 1924-1965" by researcher Dr. Raed Hayajneh, in 2002.

• The Chair's work stopped after the retirement of Chair Professor Dr. Yusuf Ghuwainmeh (i.e., four years after its establishment) and the end of Dr. Nizam Barakat's work. On July 13, 2020, the Chair's board was reformed and its work revived anew.

Current Chair Board Composition

• His Excellency University President Prof. Malek Al-Sharairi / Chairman

• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Al-Anagreh / Holder of the Late Samir Al-Rifai Chair

• H.E. Dr. Jawad Anani / Member

• Representative of the Al-Rifai Family Mr. Zaid Samir Al-Rifai / Member

• Dean of the Faculty of Arts / Member

• Head of the History and Civilization Department / Faculty of Arts / Member

• Eng. Mundher Bataaineh / Member

Samir Talib Al-Rifai in Brief

• Born in 1901 in the town of Marjeyoun, Lebanon.

• Moved to East Jordan in 1924 to work in the British administration at the airport, then transferred to the Council of Ministers.

• Worked as First Assistant to the Secretary-General Aref Al-Aref from 1925-1928.

• Assumed the duties of District Governor of Ma'an in 1928 (acting).

• Transferred to the Land Department in 1929.

• Worked as State Properties Controller in 1930.

• Worked as Secretary to the Executive Council President in 1933.

• Appointed as Secretary of the Executive Council then Director of Education in 1937.

• Samir Al-Rifai was entrusted with his first ministerial position in 1941 as Minister of Interior and Education in Tawfiq Abu Al-Huda's fourth government in 1942.

• Worked as Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister in 1943 after resigning from the ministerial position.

• Participated in Tawfiq Abu Al-Huda's fifth government in 1943, where he was assigned the Ministry of Interior and Education, then Minister of Finance, Economy, and Justice in the same government.

• Formed his first government on October 15, 1944, during the reign of King Abdullah I, the Founder. This government participated in Arab-Arab negotiations to establish the Arab League.

• Formed his second government on February 4, 1947, the first government after independence during the reign of King Abdullah I, the Founder.

• Formed his third government on December 4, 1950. This government achieved many accomplishments, including:

  1. Improving economic conditions
  2. Administrative reform and improving refugees' conditions
  3. Signing the technical and economic cooperation agreement with the United States of America

• Appointed as a member of the second Jordanian Senate after the decision of the unification of the two banks in 1950. During the reign of King Talal, Samir Al-Rifai became a member of the third Senate in 1951.

• Appointed as a member of the fourth and fifth Senate during the reign of King Hussein in the years 1955 and 1959.

• Entrusted with forming his fourth government on January 8, 1956. Among the most important achievements of this government:

• Arabization of the leadership of the Arab Army during the reign of King Hussein bin Talal.

• Formed his fifth government on May 18, 1958, his longest-serving government. This government witnessed the birth of the Hashemite Arab Union between Jordan and Iraq in 1958.

• Assumed the presidency of the sixth Senate in 1962 and again in 1963.

• Formed his sixth and final government on March 27, 1963.

• Participated in the membership of the seventh Senate formed in November 1963.

• With the establishment of the University of Jordan, Samir Al-Rifai was chosen on September 12, 1962, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Jordan.

• Samir Al-Rifai was a man of all stages and tasks.

• Samir Al-Rifai was from the generation of pioneering founding builders.