Oil, Unions and Democracy after Saddam
Lecture
The majority of contemporary scholarship on Iraqi politics focuses on issues such as: the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of the Iraqi government; the obstinacy and ineptitude of many elements of Iraq’s political elite; the systemic corruption that is hollowing out the coffers of the…
The Syrian Uprising: Multiple Discourses on Drivers and Dynamics
Seminar
Research Seminar Series: CAIS is holding a seminar in the CAIS Research Seminar Series on 16 August 2013. The series is intended to generate discussion on current issues and reflect on experiences of CAIS graduate students and staff. The seminar will feature an informal,…
Islamic Formalism: Against the Ultimate Goals of Islam?
Lecture
The initial years of Islamic history, characterised in the first half century since the advent of Islam, are generally conceived as the foundation of Sunna (tradition). This era is also misconceived as a utopia by contemporary Islamic Fundamentalists who idealise the norms and practices of…
A Global Transformation of Islamic Activism? Why Post-Islamism Still Matters
Lecture
While recent events in the Arab world seem to herald the triumph of political Islam, this presentation will argue that we have in fact firmly entered the era of post-Islamism. Where some well known articulations of the post-Islamism thesis have tended to focus on the dilution and waning legitimacy…
What future for Syria's past?
Lecture
After two years of intense conflict, concern has been expressed at the damage to Syria’s rich collection of historical monuments. Ross Burns is the author of ‘Monuments of Syria’—for two decades or so now the definitive survey of Syria’s historical sites and buildings. In this lecture, he poses the…
Negotiating with the Taliban
Lecture
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#002060; mso-ansi-language:EN-AU;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Mr Rabbani has cancelled his trip to Australia. Regrettably his public lecture is cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Gaza Under Siege: A Crisis for Health
Lecture
The siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel since the election of Hamas in June 2007 has greatly harmed Gaza’s health system. Many services, specialist and life-saving treatments are not available to Palestinians inside Gaza and access to medical care in hospitals outside Gaza has decreased. In…