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
Commentary
The New Wave of Middle-East Media Repression
In an opinion piece published in Project Syndicate, Lydia Khalil describes how the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia have suppressed unfavorable information to hold on to…
Reports
Typology of Terror — The Backgrounds of Australian Jihadis
In order to better understand what motivates Australian radical islamists to join or support a terrorist group it is first necessary to get a better understanding of who they are…
Analyses
Behind the Veil: Women in jihad after the caliphate
How the Islamic State has expanded the role of women in jihad and what that means for the future of jihad
Lowy Institute Papers
Remaking the Middle East
How a troubled region may save itself.
Anthony Bubalo
Commentary
All Western guns blazing not as easy as advocates make out
Originally published in The Australian. Rodger Shanahan
Shot down over Syria
The downing of a Russian Su-25 aircraft this week marks the second aircraft lost to MANPADS surface-to-air missiles in six weeks. At the end of December, militants shot down …
Washington's weak hand to play in Syria
With the change of administration in Washington came new clarity about US policy on Syria. The admirable, short-term aim was to defeat ISIS.
The Syrian Democratic…
Commentary
Iranian protests pose little threat to Rowhani or Khamenei
Originally published in The Australian (Photo: Getty Images)
Rodger Shanahan
Commentary
Nations align in the fight for Syrian peace
Originally published in The Australian.
Rodger Shanahan
SBS
15 September 2022
ABC Radio
4 August 2022
USA Today
2 February 2022
The Sydney Morning Herald
26 November 2021
The Guardian
20 November 2021
ABC Radio National Saturday Extra
4 September 2021
The Guardian
21 August 2021
Australian Financial Review
17 April 2021
ABC Radio National Breakfast
4 March 2021
ABC Radio National
3 October 2020
Time
30 September 2020
ABC News
13 August 2020