Adnan Abu Odeh (1933022) was a Jordanian politician and thinker who combined working in state institutions with contributing to political thought and documenting the contemporary history of Jordan and the region. He was born in the city of Nablus in 1933, obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Damascus University in 1959, and began his professional life as a teacher before transitioning to political work.
Abu Odeh held a number of prominent political and diplomatic positions, serving as advisor to King Hussein bin Talal, then to King Abdullah II. He was also an officer in the Jordanian intelligence service, and held the posts of Minister of Culture and Information, Minister of the Royal Court, Head of the Hashemite Royal Court, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations, and member of the Senate. He chaired the Board of Trustees of the Policy and Society Institute from its founding until his death on 2 February 2022.
His experience enabled him to partake in pivotal moments in the history of Jordan and its Arab and international relations. This expertise was reflected in his writings and analyses addressing Jordanian affairs, Jordanian-Palestinian relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and issues of identity, statehood, and political settlement. Among his most prominent works are “Diaries of Adnan Abu Odeh 19701988” and “Addendum to the Diaries of Adnan Abu Odeh,” which provide testimonies, documents, and political readings that aid in understanding the transformations of Jordan and the region.
At the Policy and Society Institute, his presence was associated with dialogue with youth and sharing his experience in reading the political scene and understanding Jordan’s position and challenges. The program “Adnan Abu Odeh for the Study of the Zionist Movement and Israel – Ayn” bears his name in recognition of his contributions and as a continuation of interest in building specialized knowledge and qualifying a generation of researchers capable of analysis, knowledge production, and serving Jordanian national interests.