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.
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
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
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!
Amin Naeni published an opinion article in The Conversation. It can be found here
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.
07
September
2023

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
28
August
2023

The Weaponization of Religious Myths: An Ethnography Shi’ite Gendered Narratives
Dr. Mariam Farida
11
May
2023

A Violent Nexus: Religious Fundamentalism, Exclusionary Nationalism, and the Taliban
Dr Niamatullah Ibrahimi
27
March
2023

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