Queen urges global resilience, praises Jordanian values

• Queen Rania urges resilience to confront global challenges
• Highlights Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and Sudan crises
• Warns against tech dependence and absolute thinking
• Praises Jordanians' solidarity, discipline, and humility
• Emphasizes tawakkul as a guide for perseverance

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah delivered a powerful address at the South by Southwest London (SXSW London) conference on Wednesday, calling on the international community to build the internal strength and resilience necessary to shoulder humanity's shared global challenges.

Warning that avoiding difficult tasks will inevitably erode our collective capacity to meet them, Her Majesty used a physical metaphor to describe the current global state.

“Today, we find ourselves in a moment that demands clear communication and determination – but just like anyone who has gone too long without breaking a sweat, we are discovering that our muscles have gone soft,” she cautioned, adding that "atrophy is self-reinforcing."

Heavy toll of regional, global crises

Reflecting on the state of the world, Queen Rania spoke extensively about the prevailing sense of "heaviness" that has gripped the Middle East over the past few years. She laid out a grim catalog of the region's current crises:

“It’s the weight of 'Israel'’s genocide in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed and the entire population is still denied adequate healthcare, nutrition, or shelter. It’s the weight of the on-again-off-again war in Iran and the air raid sirens echoing across the Arab World. Of fragile ceasefires. Of hundreds of thousands displaced in Lebanon. Of weaponized famine in Sudan.”

Beyond regional conflicts, Her Majesty noted that this weight is compounded by shared global hardships, including climate change, stark wealth inequality, artificial intelligence upending job markets, and the troubling normalization of racism and bigotry.

Technology, 'spiritual tech neck'

The Queen observed that this collective anxiety is amplified by the technology people carry in their pockets.

Pointing to the physical condition known as “tech neck” caused by prolonged phone use, she drew a parallel to the human psyche.

“I can’t help but see the spiritual equivalent of tech neck; the built-up heaviness from constantly looking down,” she said.

She cautioned against an overreliance on technology, noting data that links it to weakened brain pathways, a decreased tolerance for delayed gratification, and a stark 28% decline in the average number of words spoken each day.

Furthermore, Her Majesty outlined the societal dangers posed by the rise of "absolute thinking," where opposing groups become so convinced of their own exclusive righteousness that they paralyze progress.

Referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous quote about bending the arc of the moral universe, she asked, “But what if that arc is unyielding not because of its weight... but because people are pushing in opposite directions – and in the process, cancelling each other out?”

Model of community, Jordanian example

To counter this heaviness, Queen Rania called for a renewed focus on community, highlighting grassroots initiatives like volunteer-run community kitchens in Gaza and Lebanon "where the hungry feed the hungry, and the displaced care for the displaced." She urged the cultivation of discipline and humility by intentionally avoiding shortcuts and embracing flexibility over cynicism.

"At the risk of sounding biased – though I am – I believe Jordanians consistently demonstrate the value of community, discipline, and humility," Her Majesty asserted.

She noted that despite hosting one of the world's highest shares of refugees per capita and navigating severe natural resource limitations, Jordan's compassion has never wavered.

She praised ordinary Jordanians who have supported aid efforts to Gaza in droves, commending local charities organizing donation drives and medical staff volunteering at Jordanian field hospitals, while highlighting Jordan's enduring commitment to humility and diplomacy under pressure.

Perseverance through Tawakkul

Concluding her speech before the London audience, Queen Rania emphasized the vital importance of persevering through moments of deep frustration and exhaustion.

She introduced the Islamic concept of tawakkul as an alternative to simple optimism.

“Tawakkul is not a call for passivity or surrender," Her Majesty explained. "Rather, it means you do everything within your capacity, and trust in the outcome. You lift in community, with humility, again and again and again – and then, you let go.”

About the event

The address took place during SXSW London 2026, a prominent European edition of the famous Austin, Texas event that serves as a platform for the convergence of technology and the creative industries.

Held from June 1–6 in East London’s Shoreditch neighborhood, the conference features over 800 speakers alongside musical performances, a screen festival, and art exhibitions.