The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East and Central Asia) is holding a two day international conference ‘The Arab World, Iran and the Major Powers: Transitions and Challenges’.

The conference is being held at a critical transitional juncture for the Middle East. It focuses on an in-depth scholarly assessment of the changing political, social and strategic environment of the region. It examines critically not only the changes that have rocked the region at national levels, but also the role of the regional actors and major powers that have given rise to proxy conflicts in pursuit of conflicting geopolitical interests, and the likely consequences of these trends and developments for Australian interests.

The conference also marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East and Central Asia).