Rodger Shanahan's Bio | People

People | experts Rodger Shanahan

Research Fellow, West Asia Program

Lowy Institute

Areas of ExpertiseMiddle East security issues; Political Islam; Shi’a Islam

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The relativity of the death penalty

Where is the outrage over the capital punishment sentence for ISIS fighter and Australian citizen Ahmed Merhi?

By Rodger Shanahan

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The clock is ticking on tensions with Iran

The US hasn’t got much to show a year after pulling out of the nuclear deal, but Iran’s patience is also running out.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Sri Lanka attacks: Still many puzzles to solve

If NTJ is responsible for this complex, multi-target suicide attack, it probably got external help.

By Rodger Shanahan

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ISIS: the generational problem

For all the concern about the children of foreign jihadis, thousands of ISIS detainees in Iraq pose a bigger danger.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The cost of terror: two tales of country life

The small town of Loxton in South Australia has seen bravery and betrayal, a microcosm of a globalised Islamist threat.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Near death on the River Nile

A marathon journey dodging traffic jams and distracted taxi drivers, all to get a feel for the Middle East.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Who bears responsibility for the Children of ISIS?

There are 70 Australian minors affiliated with ISIS in Syria. Yet there is no policy or direction on repatriation.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Five questions about the Christchurch attack

There may not be a direct causal link between the attack and conservative political rhetoric. It is too early to tell.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Captured Islamic State fighters pose dilemma for Western countries

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Behind every mujahid there is a mujahidi

In Syria or Australia, childbearing or weapons-wielding, everyone’s contribution to violent jihad can be different.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Inflated counts of civilian casualties collateral of modern war

Complex modern conflict makes identifying the cause of the war dead impossible. This seems to have eluded some lobbies.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The supreme challenge facing Iran

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Syria: emerging consequences of the US withdrawal

Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria has actors scrambling to make sense of the ramifications.

By Rodger Shanahan

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What happens next? Trump’s sudden Syria exit

Exactly what “moving on” means will become apparent in the months ahead but such a rapid exit has obvious ramifications.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Curious: Canberra mirrors Moscow on Jerusalem

Originally published in Sydney Morning Herald

By Rodger Shanahan

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Veterans fight back against the marketing enemy at the gates

Veterans respond to the call for the public to thank them for their service.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Jerusalem embassy move down and out of three counts

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Bourke Street: debating terrorism

Too often, the same debates dominate in the wake of a suspected terrorism attack, offering too little insight.

By Rodger Shanahan

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“Would you like thanks with that?”

Veterans are already well supported before shoehorning an American tradition to Australia and ignores service of others.

By Rodger Shanahan

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What should Australia do about Saudi Arabia?

If Saudi complicity in the death of Jamal Khashoggi is shown, Canberra must make a stand to express disgust.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Making dissident Jamal Khashoggi disappear a case of ham-fisted overreach

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Where’s Jamal?

The bizarre disappearance of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi could complicate Saudi relations with the West.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The danger of mission creep in Syria

American troops went to support locals to defeat ISIS, but staying until Iranian forces withdraw is a different goal.

By Rodger Shanahan

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EU and Iran push back against US sanctions

The sight of the EU and Iran jointly announcing a plan to blunt a signature US initiative must infuriate Washington.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The crowded skies of Syria

Another plane destroyed shows despite a three-year intervention, Russian commanders don’t always know what they should.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Idlib – the (nearly) final frontier

Turkey seems to be in the weakest position in negotiations with Russia and Iran as the pressure on Idlib builds.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Australia right to question Manning visa

Manning is not a whistleblower. She is someone convicted of espionage who was given a long prison sentence.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Dollars for Syria

Given that all signs point to Bashar al-Assad staying in power, who pays for reconstruction becomes a thorny question.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Saudi blowup with Canada bodes ill for it when wind changes

Originally published in The Australian

By Rodger Shanahan

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Yemen and the drone innovation

If pro-Houthi media claims are believed, the use of drones as weapons is increasingly strategic and more than tactical.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Bomb, bomb Iran

Bombing Iran has been spoken of, allegedly planned and threatened for years, but there is no sign it is about to occur.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Syria: extinguishing the flame of the revolution

Bashar al-Assad faces more challenges, but momentum in military campaigns is a difficult thing to stop.

By Rodger Shanahan

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I (nearly) ran Iran

A marathon trip to find that, no matter where you go, people are people.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Iran’s May Day

President Trump’s deadline to decide on America’s role in the Iran Deal is drawing close.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Anzac Day and the matter of meaning

In modern and multicultural Australia, sustaining a tangible connection to a national day of remembrance poses a challenge.

By Rodger Shanahan

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All Western guns blazing not as easy as advocates make out

Originally published in The Australian.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The world according to Mohammed bin Salman

The Saudi Crown Prince is on a PR drive yet still displays all the kingdom’s weakness.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The cost to Australia’s reputation from cricket’s scandal

Sneaky and inept is how Australia is presented to the world by the actions of the national team.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Sifting evil intent from charities doing good

The nexus between aid and terrorism is a delicate and often difficult subject.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Charities and terrorism: Lessons from the Syrian crisis

Terrorists have manipulated the humanitarian crisis in Syria to create a cover for foreign fighters and to raise funds for terrorist groups under the guise of charitable donations

By Rodger Shanahan

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What’s in a (street) name?

A stroll down the petty side of Middle East conflicts.

By Rodger Shanahan

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The depressing sameness of the fight for Ghouta

The media should focus as much on armed groups among civilians as Syrian and Russian atrocities.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Back to the Syrian (un)civil war

Originally published in The Australian.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Israel strikes Syria, loses a fighter, and maybe something more

Iran breached a red line by sending a drone into Israel airspace, and the response was swift.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Shot down over Syria

Vladimir Putin could never countenance anything other than a swift and severe response to Syrian rebels who shot down a Russian Su-25.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Exposed! Australia’s secret war plans to attack Iran! (Maybe)

Nothing is for nothing in the Middle East.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Washington's weak hand to play in Syria

US policy in Syria is full of holes without a strategic plan for once the mission to defeat ISIS concludes.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Putin’s ‘Mission Accomplished’ moment

An attack by a swarm of drones shows Russia’s fight in Syria is far from over.

By Rodger Shanahan

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Iranian protests pose little threat to Rowhani or Khamenei

Originally published in The Australian (Photo: Getty Images

By Rodger Shanahan

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Russia is not really withdrawing from Syria

Vladimir Putin is burnishing his strong-man image but Russian forces are still in Syria.

By Rodger Shanahan

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