Skip to content
Welcome to the

Middle East Studies Forum

AT DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
RANKED THE TOP INSTITUTION FOR MIDDLE EAST AND ISLAMIC STUDIES RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA IN 2020 AND 2022
About us
Twitter

The Middle East Studies Forum (MESF) is a leading centre of scholarship on the Middle East at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation at Deakin University. MESF hosts world-class projects and scholarship in the field of Middle East and Central Asian studies and languages.

MESF Latest

News

View more news
MESF 2022 Annual Report Released

In 2022, we moved from stength to strength. Deakin University was listed for a second time as Australia’s top institution for Middle East and Islamic Studies. We celebrate Dr Arif Saba receiving his PhD and Prof Ben Isakhan being named Australia’s Leading Researcher in Middle East and Islamic Studies. View online

September 21, 2023
Yemen’s Houthi envoys arrive in Riyadh for ceasefire talks

A delegation from Yemen's Iran-backed rebel group, the Houthis, has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the country's eight-year war. The Oman-mediated talks are the first publically announced visit by the Houthis to Saudi Arabia since the war broke out in 2015. Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University unpacks what to expect from this meeting. View online

September 15, 2023
Congratulations to Dr Arif Saba on his graduation

Dr Arif Saba has completed his PhD and has been awarded his doctoral certificate. We are very proud of Dr Arif Saba for this remarkable achievement. Many congratulations to Arif!

June 26, 2023
With Iran purportedly capable of making a nuclear bomb in a matter of months, what will its leaders do next?

Amin Naeni published an opinion article in The Conversation.  It can be found here

April 14, 2023
Congratulations to Prof Ihsan Yilmaz on his new ARC success
December 6, 2022
Great congratulation to Prof Benjamin Isakhan

Congratulations to Prof Benjamin Isakhan for being named Australia’s Leading Researcher in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the The Australian annual research report.

November 29, 2022

Events

07
September
2023
MESF & AIIA Panel Discussion: Australia’s Relations with the Middle East

MESF & AIIA Panel Discussion: Australia’s Relations with the Middle East

Mr Alastair Roff, Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, Professor Sally Totman, Mr Roland Jabbour OAM, Dr Rodger Shanahan, Mr James Bryan

Read More
28
August
2023
The Weaponization of Religious Myths: An Ethnography Shi’ite Gendered Narratives

The Weaponization of Religious Myths: An Ethnography Shi’ite Gendered Narratives

Dr. Mariam Farida

Read More
30
May
2023
Digital Activism in Authoritarian Contexts

Digital Activism in Authoritarian Contexts

Read More
11
May
2023
A Violent Nexus: Religious Fundamentalism, Exclusionary Nationalism, and the Taliban

A Violent Nexus: Religious Fundamentalism, Exclusionary Nationalism, and the Taliban

Dr Niamatullah Ibrahimi

Read More
27
March
2023
Everyday Choices: The Role of Competing Authorities and Social Institutions in Politics and Development

Everyday Choices: The Role of Competing Authorities and Social Institutions in Politics and Development

Prof Ellen Lust

Read More
05
December
2022
The Middle East in Transition

The Middle East in Transition

Read More