The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Protecting the Urban Heritage in As-Salt City – Jordan

Abstract

This book chapter aimed to identify the role of civil society organizations in protecting the urban heritage in As-Salt city in Jordan. For collecting data, the exploratory approach was employed, conducting interviews with the heads of cultural and tourism associations and the associations concerned with reconstructing the urban heritage in As-Salt city. The number of interviewees was 12 participants selected using the purposive sampling method. The results showed that despite the great desire from civil society organizations operating in As-Salt city the completed work does not reflect the actual role that civil society organizations must play in supporting and protecting the urban heritage when compared to developed countries. This can be attributed to the recent emergence of such organizations in Jordan, the idea of volunteering in the Jordanian society, lack of field experience, and the lack of awareness of the importance of nongovernmental organizations. Based on the findings, it is recommended to establish a coordination between civil society organizations and official institutions on issues of preserving urban heritage under a single and comprehensive umbrella and vision to ensure the unification of efforts through dialog, coordination, and cooperation. It is also recommended to exchange ideas and opinions on programs of maintenance, restoration, and preservation of historical buildings.

1. Introduction

Jordan, ancient in its history and originality, possesses many unique cultural and natural heritage sites, which date back to various eras from prehistoric times until the end of the Islamic eras. As-Salt city is one of the prominent heritage sites considered as the first urban site in Jordan to be included on the World Heritage List and the sixth Jordanian site on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

As-Salt city is located 28 km west of Amman (Figure 1), and it is the center of Al-Balqa Governorate (Figure 2). It includes many important archeological sites from different eras.

Figure 1.

As-salt city in Jordan. Jordan map. As-salt city in Jordan. As-salt city.

Figure 2.

The city of As-salt is the center of Balqa governorate.

As-Salt is home for the oldest museum in Jordan (the Archeological Museum), As-Salt Historical Museum (Abu Jaber House) (Figure 3), the English Hospital, As-Salt Secondary School for Boys, the Tomb of the Unknown Turkish Soldier, and many heritage neighborhoods such as the castle, Al-Khader, the Jada, the old As-Salt neighborhood, the Skafiya market, and the Royal Roman Cemetery in Wadi Shuaib [1]. In the city, the doors of the churches meet with the doors of the mosques. This is noticeable in the Great Mosque of As-Salt, which was built on the ruins of a mosque dating back to the Mamluk era, and it is opposite to the English Council and the Church of the Good Shepherd within the path of “Harmony”. Nearby is the 1886 Latin Church, which is among hundreds of archeological and religious sites. At the heart of the city, there are five Christian and Islamic religious shrines, including the shrine of the Prophet Al-Khidr and the Orthodox Church (Figures 4–6), which was built next to an Ottoman cave in 1682 and restored in 2004 [2].

Figure 3.

As-salt historical museum (Abu Jaber house). (source: Photos by Dr. Kabila Hmood).

Figure 4.

As-salt includes many important archeological sites from different eras. Many important archeological sites of As-salt. Balqa tourism directorate. As-Sukar house.

Figure 5.

As-salt includes many important archeological sites from different eras. (public sites). As-salt. Alkhazar street. Hammam street. Al-Midan Square.

Figure 6.

As-salt includes many important archeological sites from different eras. (mosques and churches). Prophet Shoaib shrine (source: Photos by Dr. Kabila Hmood).

This global recognition of the importance of the city requires preparation and expectation of visits and a large number of tourists. This entails greater responsibility and continuous plans for the development of the city to ensure the preservation of heritage and the continuity of the city’s registration on the World Heritage List. Civil society organizations work in cooperation and interaction with governmental organizations in order to play an important and fundamental role in defining priorities and challenges in development projects, including, in particular, the urban heritage. This is because of the specificity of these organizations represented in their relationship with the target groups, their closeness, and their integration with the different groups in society. This relationship allows civil society organizations to have a clearer and deeper vision of their urgent needs and the problems and obstacles that may encounter development projects in this regard, and they can convey a clearer and more credible picture to the decision-making authorities [3].

In Jordan, civil society organizations began forming between 1921 and 1948. More than 50 civil organizations were established forming the basic nucleus of economic, social, and political structures such as chambers of commerce, social associations, sports, cultural, and intellectual clubs. From 1948 to1967, the conditions and the socio-political environment developed due to the high rates of education, the spread of schools and institutes, the growth of population, the construction of new cities, the revival of cities on new economic, political, and cultural bases. In addition, the work of official governmental organizations expanded, achieving stability and general development for the various sectors of the Jordanian people. During the period between 1958 and 1965, there were about 116 clubs in Jordan, in addition to numerous professional and trade union associations. Professional unions began to emerge in the year 1950, and the syndicates of lawyers, doctors, dentists, and engineers were formed. At this stage, the first legal legislation recognizing the right of workers to form a union framework for them was approved. The workers union was established in 1954, and there were more than 39 unions at the end of 1957. The number of associations increased in 1961 to 226 social associations [4], and it went up until it reached 2300 organizations. The number of members also exceeds one million, and its spread in many Jordanian cities and villages is one of its most important strength factors.

Civil society organizations in Jordan include 12 bodies of social organizations spread all over the regions of the kingdom, namely: political parties, professional unions, labor unions, social and charitable societies, environmental organizations, sports and youth clubs, human rights and democratic development organizations, women’s organizations, employers’ organizations, protection and health care associations, and what is known on behalf of organizations on the edges of civil society [5]. In As-Salt city, a number of different civil society organizations emerged and diversified into various fields of work. These include charities, associations dealing with youth, sports, women and children affairs, cultural and tourism associations, and centers playing significant roles on how to preserve and protect the urban heritage in the city. This responsibility does not fall on the state or a specific entity only, but all individuals, regardless of their positions and roles. Each individual must contribute to the task of preserving the cultural heritage of the city, and with this collective concept of responsibility, society can achieve and sustain this task.

1.1 Research problem

Civil society organizations are the organizational framework for supervising and educating community members, with the aim of integration and participation in activating volunteer work in society and active participation in various societal issues, including the preservation of urban heritage. This is achieved through working to educate individuals and prepare them to be ready to face the dangers to which monuments and historical buildings are exposed. Locally, interest in the role of community organizations as a partner in change, development, and development at all levels and in various fields has escalated, as a key partner in the process of economic growth, development, education reform, and finding appropriate solutions to social issues facing society (Al-Arifi, 2012).

The Canadian Heritage Center [6] affirms that the concept of urban heritage is broad and encompasses the natural and cultural environment that includes natural landscapes, historical places, cultural sites, buildings, environmental diversity, and past and present cultural practices. It also includes the knowledge that society has acquired in the past and present, and its current life experiences. Heritage is a record of the processes of historical development, and it expresses them to form the essence of national, regional, and local identity to become part of contemporary life.

Urban heritage is a concept that is always characterized by instability as clear and continuous changes occur to it resulting from the effects of society on the set of components of the urban heritage. Through this vision, it is assumed that there is a need to approach the concepts of urban heritage from a different point of view that requires concerted efforts, whether at the educational, political, or social level, in order to develop an action agenda capable of contributing to the preservation of urban heritage. Through this study, we try to answer the main question: What is the role of civil society organizations in As-salt city in protecting the urban heritage? What are the challenges that stand in the way of that?

1.2 Research hypothesis

The study postulates that civil society organizations have a major role in preparing and planning programs and projects and implementing policies that protect antiquities, historical buildings, and urban heritage in As-Salt city. Thus, it is assumed that these organizations play an important role in the field of tourism development and preservation of antiquities as antiquities represent the material aspect of civilization and an important material source of national income.

1.3 Significance of the study

The importance of this study stems from the great role that civil society organizations play in preserving the heritage, protecting it from deterioration, tampering and extinction, and avoiding exposing it to danger, spreading awareness among all segments of society in order not to trespassing on monuments and historical buildings. Thus, this study will contribute to the field of scientific study and enrich scientific knowledge in the field of urban heritage.

It is hoped that the following will benefit from the results of this study:

• Society, as this study can provide in terms of spreading community awareness about the process of community participation, the importance of teamwork, in addition to developing, developing and expanding areas of cooperation and participation in various fields.

• Researchers: This study would constitute an informational base and an important point for conducting other studies and research on the subject of the study with the aim of achieving its comprehensive development concept and opening new horizons and scopes to address the protection of urban heritage and the contribution of civil society in its protection.

• It is expected that this study, through its results, will enrich the Arab library in general and the Jordanian library in particular by adding a process on the subjects of the study.

1.4 Aims of the study

This study aims to identify the role of civil society organizations and organizations in preserving and protecting the urban heritage from encroachment, protecting it from deterioration, tampering and extinction, and avoiding exposing it to danger. The study also introduces some methods, techniques, and programs to protect and secure the urban heritage from risks and how to protect them through our study of a model in As-Salt city in Jordan. The study also aims to enrich the theme of urban heritage and its cultural and historical importance to the nation and the cultural status, and it represents of a cultural status contributing to the overall cultural and economic balance.

2. Literature review

2.1 Civil society in Jordan

Civil society is principally an intertwined fabric of relations that are established between its members on the one hand and between them and the state on the other hand. These relationships are based on the exchange of interests and benefits, contracting, compromise understanding, disagreement, rights, duties, responsibilities, and holding the state accountable at all times when it is necessary to hold it accountable [7].

Kandil believes that civil society represents the totality of voluntary, nonhereditary, and nongovernmental social organizations that nurture the individual and maximize his ability to participate in public life. Civil society organizations play an intermediary role between state organizations and heritage organizations. This definition excludes the relationships based on family or clan bases, which are referred to as hereditary.

Millawi [8] states that there are a number of terms given to civil society organizations such as civil organizations, nongovernmental organizations, charitable organizations, nonprofit organizations, voluntary organizations, and volunteer work organizations. In France, for example, it is called social economy, in Britain, it is called public charities, in Germany, it is called associations and unions, and in Japan, they are referred to as public interest institutions. Tlilan [4] defines civil society organizations as voluntary political, economic, social, and cultural organizations, which operate in multiple fields and independently of the authority of the state and seek to achieve multiple purposes such as participation, upbringing, defending their goals and the interests of their members, spreading cultural awareness, and contributing to overall development.

Jaribae [9] argues that civil society is a group of free and voluntary organizations that are established to provide services to citizens, or to practice various humanitarian activities and are committed in their existence and activity to the values and standards of respect, compromise, tolerance, participation, and the peaceful management of diversity and difference.

The expansion of community organizations within a particular country, their supervision of multiple sectors, and their contribution in managing various fields is considered a positive indicator of the extent of the state’s development, and its ability to absorb individual and community initiatives emanating from informal bodies, to serve vital projects in the country. The legitimacy of the participation of community organizations in public life is not an intellectual luxury, but rather there are constitutional rules and international commitments that establish this participation, give it a legal dimension, and give it a legitimacy [10].

The importance of the role of community organizations stems from the investment in creative human energies, contributing to building a society based on deep moral values. Community organizations provide any society with strong foundations for building democracy, achieving social justice, helping individuals achieve their aspirations by positively influencing public policies in the fields of education, health and human rights, supporting anti-corruption policy, and solving problems facing society in its various sectors [11].

2.2 Strengths and weaknesses of civil society organizations in Jordan

The spread of community organizations in Jordan in many Jordanian cities and villages is one of its strengths, which generates knowledge of the environment (people, culture, and customs), building good relationships with society, motivation and ability to participate, and the developmental impact that community organizations have on individuals, which includes developing and building their capabilities. In addition, community organizations are also sources of information for society and individuals, and they can provide education for individuals on general values such as participation, concern, tolerance, respect for human rights, and rejection of violence. What increases the points of strength are the state’s political interest in civil society and its various organizations and the political, social, and economic openness. Jordan’s signing of international agreements that helped the growth of civil society organizations in addition to their diversity and specialization in various fields enriches and increases the strength of society. Civil society organizations play an important role in communication between individuals and organizations teaming up to achieve their goals, serve the community, and solve its issues. In addition, the multiplicity of community organizations in their directions, goals, and the field in which they work gives them a social advantage in resolving issues facing society [7].

There are a number of weakness points in community organizations, including the influence and affiliation of some organizations with political parties and religious currents. This makes them lose their independence and credibility in field work. Some organizations function for purely commercial and personal activities for the purpose of material gain and other facilities because of some financial difficulties and criticism of some organizations. One of the negative aspects is also the conservative nature of Jordanian society, especially in the areas outside the capital Amman. The conservative nature of society hinders the participation of women and youth in these organizations. In addition, the unstable economic and political conditions in the region affects the state’s relationship with organizations and the nature of their work [9].

In As-Salt city, civil society organizations working in the field of tourism and culture are many and diverse, including As-Salt Reconstruction Foundation, the Jordanian Society for Heritage Preservation, the Fine Artists Association, Al-Khader Street Forum for Culture and Arts, As-Salt Cultural Association, As-Salt Cultural Club, Friends of Tourism Association. The following Table 1 shows the organizations with their year of establishment:

The organization	Year founded
As-Salt Reconstruction Foundation	1982
The Jordanian Society for Heritage Preservation	2002
The Fine Artists Association	1977
Al-Khader Street Forum for Culture and Arts	2020
As-Salt Cultural Association	1989
As-Salt Cultural Club	2006
Friends of Tourism Association	2017

Table 1.

Civil society organizations working in the field of tourism and culture in As-salt city.

Source: Authors.

2.3 The urban heritage in As-salt

As-Salt city is characterized by its old neighborhoods with a unique architectural character built of yellow stone dating back to the golden age of the city between 1890 and 1920 (Figure 7). Due to the nature of the area, which is composed of rugged mountain ranges, these neighborhoods were formed in a way that is akin to cumulative construction between narrow streets and connected stairs, characterized by window openings and skillfully carved door arches [12].

Figure 7.

The urban heritage in As-salt.

Before 1866, the buildings were of a single storey made of clay and coarse stone, and ceilings carried on tree trunks. After that, the city was influenced by the urban line in the city of Nablus—Palestine, where the floors were multiplied and yellow stone was introduced as a basic component of the city’s architectural facades, with sculptural details such as protrusions, in addition to the use of domes and arches.

From 1890 to the First World War, the city was influenced by the European character, where tiled roofs, steel beams, and balconies appeared. After the emergence of reinforced concrete and the entry of imported materials into construction, the city developed in a rapid way so that it contained more than 2000 heritage buildings. However, the city was affected in 1927 by the earthquake that struck the region. In addition to the migration of the population to Amman and the development of infrastructure and the increase in the use of concrete in construction, only about 850 buildings remained of these heritage buildings built of yellow stone, which distinguished them from other cities in the kingdom [13].

2.4 Policies for the preservation of urban heritage

The urban heritage of nations is one of the most important determinants of the identity of society and distinguishes it from other societies as this concept includes several material and moral components that basically form the image of society in front of other societies. The urban heritage of nations is one of the most important elements that determine the identity of society and its distinction from other societies as this concept includes several material and moral components that form the basis for the image of society in front of other societies. Therefore, working to identify the components of urban heritage in societies is important and requires devoting effort, time, and money as urban heritage is reflected in the identity of society and the personal identity of its members, which means that working on determining the role of urban heritage in shaping identity is an important matter that needs a lot of study and research. Since it forms the basis for understanding the components of heritage identity [14].

Heritage is one of the most important determinants of cultural identity in societies as it contains material and non-material topics of value that have been inherited from previous generations, in addition to the contributions of civilization at the present time. Heritage includes several components, the most important of which are tourist attractions and natural places. Ecosystems and traditional cities, which necessitates the need to preserve these heritage components in order to pass them on to future generations [15].

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 1972) indicated during the first conference on the preservation of human urban heritage that this concept includes several components that can be developed as follows:

1. Cultural monuments, which include buildings, engineering works, statues, sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, drawings on cave walls, or any artwork of value from the point of view of historians, artists, and scientists.

2. Buildings that comprise a single building or a group of buildings linked with each other and that can be described due to their engineering construction or location as of national and global value from the point of view of historians, artists, and scientists.

3. Places, which include human works or natural phenomena that both nature and man contributed to building or drawing, in addition to historical places of cultural value at the national and human levels.

4. Natural features, which consist of physical and biological formations or any of the natural elements that contributed to building natural features of esthetic or scientific value.

5. Geological features, which constitute the natural environment for some animals or plants that are threatened with extinction and can be considered valuable from the point of view of scientists and conservationists.

6. Natural places, which are considered areas that contain a large group of natural living organisms and can be considered as valuable.

The first criterion for listing a historical site of heritage is the temporal criterion, which means everything that the elements or components were older the higher the heritage criterion, and the second criterion is the technical criterion, that is, the criterion that has to do with architecture, architecture is an artistic system as it has certain dimensions and patterns of (openings, facades, elevations, doors, and urban spaces) where these elements are considered the visual and material incubator in which a person lives to practice his activities, and the third criterion is the set of social, economic, and environmental values; For example, a specific tribal guesthouse, where tribal meetings must take place or a specific decision was issued that affected the future of the region or its planning, and the environmental criterion, which is the amount of urban response to environmental conditions, and the fourth criterion is the symbolic criterion, such as the association of areas, buildings or roads with a specific event, such as Al Ain Square in the city of Salt, Al Ain Square in the city of Salt is a (space) that does not have buildings and Al Ain Square has gained its importance because it has a symbolic value from the gathering of individuals around the springs of water in the past, and also gather them to play popular games in our time, and based on the above, and with reference to the city of Salt, all the previous criteria are available in the city of Salt despite the availability of all four values that make the city of Salt a heritage city with distinction, one of the things that exist now in a remarkable and distinct way and took a strong dimension in the classification of the city of Salt is the architectural standard in the city center (Figure 8), which is represented by many distinguished buildings in the city of Salt, where the number of heritage buildings reached 657 buildings [3].

Figure 8.

A strong dimension in the classification of the city of salt is the architectural standard in the city center.

The urban heritage consists of two main elements: the tangible urban heritage, and it is expressed through works of art, paintings, sculpture, buildings, and tourist attractions. As for the intangible urban heritage, it is the means that expresses the cultural diversity in society. Its importance lies in the fact that it is based on the technical knowledge and skills that have been passed on in society from one generation to the next. Thus, the intangible urban heritage is the unwritten societal experiences and knowledge that have contributed significantly to the cultural level of society reaching what it is [16].

There are various policies for preserving urban heritage, as follows [17]:

Protection: This type of policy is limited to historical or archeological spaces, and sometimes followed by modern areas of a distinctive character, and the protection is for certain buildings, the urban fabric, or the architectural character, and sometimes it expands to include the protection of the social and economic structure along with the urban structure.

Maintenance: The process of dealing with damage or defect in the building that actually occurred or is likely to occur, and that is by the applicable means, and aims to improve the general appearance of the building, and it is a periodic work that must be carried out on an ongoing basis to preserve the building.

Restoration: It means any intervention aimed at restoring the efficiency of an act of human activity, and the restoration process aims to restore historical buildings and areas to their original condition when they were constructed.

Reconfiguration: Reassembling parts of a historic building, either in the original place or in a new place, as it is considered a national monument.

Reuse: The process of re-employing buildings of archeological and historical standards in new uses that are appropriate to the current development and at the same time ensuring the continuity of life of those buildings and preserving them in a practical way. This process poses no danger to the archeological origin or any conflict with the values or principles of society.

Renewal: The use of public funds to support an initiative aimed at improving disadvantaged populations or places.

2.5 Contribution of civil society organizations in the city of salt in the protection of urban heritage

Efforts were organized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Tourism Directorate, As-Salt Reconstruction Corporation, and the greater As-Salt Municipality that resulted in several administrative committees. The first committee was assigned to manage the great museum (downtown Al-Salt) tourism. As-Salt Reconstruction Corporation and the Tourism Directorate are responsible for this committee. Another committee is responsible for organizing the activities of the local community and the services they provide to tourists. This task is carried out by As-Salt Reconstruction Foundation as a civil society institution concerned with community development.

Civil society organizations in As-Salt city are redoubling their efforts to spread awareness of the value of heritage. They are also undertaking educational efforts to form a social base that embraces the idea of caring for heritage and antiquities and caring for them, working to consolidate their value in the minds of different sects and social classes, and to bring about a qualitative shift in people’s view of heritage by highlighting its historical value. The Jordanian society for the preservation of heritage prepared the famous traditional and heritage game championship in As-Salt city, which is known as (Mancala).

A number of organizations have organized festivals and heritage events and set up programs and projects that explain the professions and crafts of the pioneers and their handicrafts. They also exhibited the products of various folk arts, races, and local games, such as the annual heritage knights festival, which is held by the Friends of Tourism Association in cooperation with the Balqa Tourism Directorate, the Cultural Book Knights Association, and As-salt Reconstruction Foundation. They also organized tours for visitors from outside the city and received tourists in the city’s heritage houses.

The urban heritage was also immortalized by organizing various exhibitions, such as exhibitions of old and rare photographs, which chronicle this heritage and these antiquities according to the years they were taken. These are also compared with the present reality, to realize the extent of the changes and transformations that have occurred in the region, the repercussions, effects, and consequences of the modernization movement, urban and industrial growth on the heritage, and environment of this region. This is what the Fine Arts Association in the city does on an ongoing and regular basis as it annually attracts fine artists from the Arab region to hold an art exhibition in As-Salt city. The continuous emphasis through seminars, workshops, and meetings indicates that the issue of protecting heritage and the environment is not an intellectual luxury, but rather a national duty that must be fulfilled for developing the citizen and improving his standard of living, ensuring stability and a decent life. Annually, the Fawasil Foundation for Civil Society Development, in cooperation with As-Salt Reconstruction Foundation, holds As-Salt Spring Cultural Festival. The capacity-raising program for workers in the tourism sector was also carried out in cooperation between As-Salt Reconstruction Corporation and the Vocational Training Corporation. Al-Khader Street Association for Culture and Thought and As-Salt Cultural Forum are holding ongoing workshops and seminars related to preserving heritage in As-Salt city.

2.6 Challenges facing civil society organizations in As-salt toward protecting the urban heritage

The most important challenges facing the Jordanian antiquities in general, and in the As-Salt in particular, are urban expansion, heavy machinery, and the establishment of random housing plans. In addition, the reactions of some toward the antiquities, because they were prevented from building or maintaining their homes located in the sites of the archaeological areas form also substantial challenges. Also, one of the most important challenges is the lack of clear data and an information base that provides civil society organizations operating in the city with the necessary data about the number of visitors, the places of their tours, and the duration of their stay in the city. In addition, civil society organizations are not involved in the development and restoration of heritage houses, a task that is only borne by government institutions.

The reuse and employment of archeological sites and historical buildings compatible with development and tourism projects in the city are carried out by individuals or organizations from outside the city that have obtained financial support from international donors or through government institutions. Most of the financial support operations related to this field go to organizations from outside the city, and it does not require that the organization be from within the city and operate in the city. This wastes job opportunities, investment, and financial return for civil society organizations operating in the city.

Moreover, there are no measures that determine the long-term consequences of projects related to the renewal and protection of urban heritage in the city. The city has no clear idea or plans for keeping it on the list of UNESCO heritage cities. This is a failure on the part of the government agencies responsible for protecting the urban heritage in the city. Organizations working in the city are not directly involved and informed of the most important and latest developments in this matter. More importantly, there is a lack of social awareness among citizens in taking responsibility for civil work, and the severe shortage of volunteers to work with these organizations, whether in tourism projects, or developmental and cultural projects in general.

3. Methodology and procedures

In this study, the exploratory approach was used as it is the most appropriate for the subject of the study. The data was collected through an unstructured telephone interview, which included open-ended questions to which the respondent answered using his own expressions. Interviews were conducted with the heads of cultural and tourism associations and associations concerned with the renewal of urban heritage in As-Salt city. The number of participants was 12, chosen using the purposive sampling method. The interviews were recorded after obtaining the sample’s permission for quality purposes in the interviews, and then these interviews were transcribed into written texts, after which a cross-cutting analysis was conducted for all the interviews together by extracting the main ideas to cover the main axes of the interview. Then, the general themes were adopted after reviewing the studies related to the subject of the study. The themes were as follows:

• The first axis: The contributions of civil society organizations in the city of Salt in the protection of urban heritage.

• The second axis: The challenges facing civil society organizations in the city of As-salt toward protecting the urban heritage

3.1 The validity of the tool

The mechanisms of validity in qualitative research differ from quantitative research, and this is determined by the subject and problem of the study. McMillan and Schumacher [18] indicate that reliability in qualitative research can be expressed in the compatibility of meanings of interpretations and concepts between the researcher and the participants, that is, the degree of proficiency of the researcher and the participants in describing the goals, their components, and their meanings. The validity refers to the level or accuracy of measuring and correctly recording observations as intended to be measured. The researcher relied on estimating the accuracy of the responses obtained during the interviews to ensure the validity of the data provided by the participants.

3.1.1 Stability of interviews

To ensure the stability of the interviews, two interviews were selected and presented to the heads of cultural and tourism associations and clubs who were interviewed, and they agreed with what was stated in the text of the written interview.

4. Results and discussions

From the foregoing, it is evident that civil society organizations can make a real contribution to development if they are able to build developmental awareness and employ it through positive participation in the development process. In addition, there are many civil society organizations in As-Salt that are doing their best to promote a culture of voluntary work in the community, such as working in the fields of training for the protection of antiquities. They also contribute to the revival of the cultural heritage, communicate and participate with local and international organizations in this regard. The following conclusions can be drawn and a number of proposals and recommendations can be made, as follows:

4.1 Findings

Despite the great desire on the part of civil society organizations operating in As- Salt and related to their work in the cultural and tourism field to continue voluntary work, the work done does not reflect the actual role that civil society organizations must play in supporting and protecting the urban heritage when compared to some developed world countries. This is due to several reasons, including, for example, the recent establishment of these organizations, the idea of volunteering in the life of Jordanian society, lack of field experience, and the less concern culture regarding the importance of nongovernmental organizations. Hence, there is an absence of major organizations that assume a fundamental role in a specific field, similar to other effective organizations in the world.

Inadequate financial aid generates difficulties for civil society organizations, especially those that suffer from poor funding, to carry out operations related to the protection of urban heritage and the reuse of heritage buildings. Weak societal culture toward volunteer work and the work of civil society organizations, leading to a shortage of volunteers and reducing popular participation in private civil work in the field of urban heritage protection. There is a lack of government support and cooperation between the official authorities responsible for protecting urban heritage and the civil society organizations operating in As-Salt city.

Based on the results, it is, therefore, imperative to establish a coordination between civil society organizations and official institutions on issues of preserving urban heritage, with a single and comprehensive control and vision to ensure the unification of efforts through dialogue, coordination, and cooperation, and the exchange of views and information in everything related to programs of maintenance, restoration, and preservation of historical sites. It is also important to raise archeological awareness to the extent required to involve the citizen in protecting antiquities by activating popular oversight. Archeological awareness prepares the individual and creates the climate for protecting the urban heritage. It is one of the important measures in the civilization of nations. By the absence of this awareness, the urban heritage can be wasted.

There is a need to establish a database with the necessary statistics along with developing an implementation plan for media programs to educate community members on the importance of civil work. In addition, the results suggest the need for initiating communication and participation between local and international organizations related to the protection of urban heritage and finding ways of effective partnership among them. Attracting experts to support the activities and programs of the organization for the benefit of As-Salt city is also significant. They would be able to provide advice and technical support and work on developing tourism projects aimed at preserving urban heritage, such as digitizing heritage buildings within electronic applications based on virtual and augmented reality.

5. Conclusion

In this book chapter, the aim was to identify the role of civil society organizations in protecting the urban heritage in As-Salt city in Jordan. The results reveal that the work done by concerned organizations does not reflect the actual role that civil society organizations must play in supporting and protecting the urban heritage when compared to some developed world countries. There is a lack of awareness of the importance of nongovernmental organizations. The perception of volunteer work is still not fully developed, leading to a shortage of volunteers and reducing popular participation in private civil work in the field of urban heritage protection. More importantly, there is a lack of government support and cooperation between the official authorities responsible for protecting urban heritage and the civil society organizations operating in As-Salt city.