Interview: Election Results Confirm Iranian Regime’s Legitimacy at Risk, Potentially Non-existent

Reminding that elections are pivotal in justifying Iranian religious leadership and sustaining political legitimacy, Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh emphasizes that the recent turnout data from Iran’s elections serves as a stark wake-up call for authorities. He argues that the low turnout raised serious concerns for the regime’s legitimacy and underscores that the Iranian regime has come to recognize that its legitimacy is significantly at risk, perhaps even non-existent.  Read Interview

MESF 2023 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

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“Iran, Energy Security, and the War on Gaza”

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.

Explainer: what is the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

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

Al Jazeera – Netanyahu dismisses a ceasefire proposal by Hamas and orders troops to push further into Rafah

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

Social Media, Surveillance, and Societies of Control

Amin Naeni, our PhD scholar, will present his paper at the fifth International Winter School 2024 (IWS) organized by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. The 2024 IWS, themed “Social Media, Surveillance, and Societies of Control,” will take place from January 6 to 11, in Doha, Qatar. Amin’s paper will discuss the process of securitization of public protests in Iran through state-led online campaigns.