Programs & Projects
The West Asia Program
The West Asia program provides original research on developments in the Middle East and Central and Southwest Asia, including as they impact on Australia. Central research issues include relations between West Asia and East Asia, the Arab uprisings and geo-political change in the Middle East and Australia’s relations with the Gulf.
Experts
Latest publications
News and media
Egypt, Sisi and the next generation of jihadists
At the end of last week, Egyptian military chief Field Marshall Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that he would be resigning his military post to run for this year's presidential…
Analyses
Next-gen jihad in the Middle East
In this Analysis Lowy Institute Research Director, Anthony Bubalo, argues that the current turmoil in the Middle East is incubating a new generation of jihadists. In many respects…
Happy Afghan new year, the Taliban way
New year's eve, regardless what calendar you adhere to, is for many about turning a new leaf and making resolutions about what to do better the next year. In Afghanistan such a…
What's next for Peter Greste?
The gates to Tora prison and court in Cairo. (Photo by the author.)
Having sat through the previous hearing of Australian journalist Peter Greste's trial in Cairo, I quickly came…
Year four of Syria's civil war: Elections and more fighting
Last week, the Syrian civil war entered its fourth year. Two events highlighted how intractable this conflict has become.
First, the Syrian parliament passed an electoral law…
Security concerns in the Gulf (part 1): A feud in the GCC
The first of a two-part post on security concerns among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Events in the past week in the Persian Gulf have illustrated how national…
Lebanon: Second front in the Syria war
This weekend's blast at an army checkpoint on the outskirts of Hermel, claimed by Sunni jihadists, is just the latest in a series of vehicle-borne suicide attacks aimed at…
Israel-Palestine: Bibi Netanyahu stuck between politics and peace
John Kerry's relentless pursuit of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement may not deliver the goods but it will answer a key question. Is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin…
Splitters: Syria's Pythonesque Islamist opposition
One of many great scenes from The Life of Brian was the depiction of the schism among anti-Roman groups that resulted in the standoff between the Judean People's Front, the…
Rahul Gandhi breaks his silence
This interview with Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and head of the Congress Party’s election campaign, is creating waves in India, in part because it's the first…