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
Middle East Council on Global Affairs in partnership with the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University hosted a workshop titled, “Iran, Energy Security, and the War on Gaza,” featuring Shahram Akbarzadeh, Luciano Zaccara and Nikolay Kozhanov.
While Netanyahu has never been in favour of a two-state solution, it has had significant support from governments around the world for decades, including the United States, the United Kingdom, European nations, Australia, Canada, Egypt and others. However, the two-state solution is now further away than it has ever been, with some even proclaiming it “dead”. But what actually is the two-state solution and why do so many see this as the only resolution to the conflict? Read Article
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there’s still room for an agreement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a ceasefire proposal. The deal was put forth by Hamas after mediation by the Qatar and Egypt. Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor of Middle East and Central Asian politics at Deakin University, says Israel’s leader is averse to signing a truce deal as it would give Hamas credibility and recognition. Watch Now
Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday leveling sanctions against four Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank after weeks of warnings to Tel Aviv. Sputnik asked a pair of leading observers of regional politics what the unprecedented move will mean for US-Israeli relations going forward. Read Article
Biden said Netanyahu is not opposed to all two-state solutions, after Biden and Netanyahu spoke for the first time in weeks amid tensions over the war on Gaza. His comment comes after, Netanyahu said he had told US officials in plain terms that he will not support a Palestinian state as part of any post-war plan. Watch Now
05
April
2024
14
March
2024
A Day in the Life of Abed Salama; Nathan Thrall in conversation with Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh
Nathan Thrall
16
November
2023
Strategic Digital Information Operations, Democracy and Social Cohesion
Professor Ihsan Yilmaz, Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh
25
October
2023
Politics of Grief: Mothers and Protesters
Dr. Hadeel Abdelhameed, Dr. Ghyath Manhal Alkinani
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