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 Conference 2024
The Middle East After the War on Gaza: Navigating the Impact of Regional Rivalries, the US Mid-East Policy, and the Future of Authoritarianism
October 7-8, 2024
There have been conflicting reports of progress towards a truce in Gaza following a new round of ceasefire talks in Cairo. Egyptian state media earlier reported the talks are making progress, but a Hamas official has denied the claims. Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University has more on the prospect of a ceasefire. Watch Now
“Six months after Israel launched its attack under the banner of self-defense and the stated objective of destroying Hamas, Israel is no closer to achieving its military goals,” Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh, a Middle Eastern politics expert at Deakin University in Australia, told Sputnik. Read Article
Another suspected Israeli missile attack has struck the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing a number of Iranian generals. The strike is being seen as a dramatic escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran and could hold far-reaching implications for the region. Listen
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
The US is asking for a UN Security Council vote on an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza. The announcement was made by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Saudi Arabia. Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University has more. Watch Now
2023 was a defining year, being host to many milestones for our members. We also held several successful events including two multi-day hybrid workshops on the ‘Emerging digital technologies and the future of democracy in the Muslim world’. View online
07
October
2024
The Middle East After the War on Gaza: Navigating the Impact of Regional Rivalries, the US Position, and the Future of Authoritarianism
22
April
2024
Iran in the Middle East: Building Bridges or Expanding Influence?Webinar:
Azadeh Zamirirad, Hamidreza Azizi, Mehran Kamrava, Shahram Akbarzadeh (Moderator)
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