Middle East and Central Asia Futurescapes: Rethinking Politics, Culture, and Technology 

· 19-20 November 2026

· The Australian National University, Canberra

· Abstract deadline: 30 September 2026 (extended)

How are the futures of the Middle East and Central Asia being imagined, contested, and shaped? Organised under the Middle East and Central Asia Futurescapes Network, an initiative of the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, this conference will bring together scholars from across the humanities and social sciences to explore the political, technological, economic, social, and cultural transformations reshaping the region. We welcome abstracts related to the following themes: • Power, Geopolitics and Future Regional Orders

• Technology, Innovation and Digital Futures 
• Economy, Sustainability and Development Futures 
• Society, Identity and Social Transformation 
• Religion, Heritage and Future Imaginaries 
• Media, Arts and Cultural Futures

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Ali Mozaffari

A/Professor Alexandr Akimov

Dr Neda Alahmad

Dr Zaynab El Barnoussi

We especially encourage submissions from early-career researchers. Limited funding support will also be available for participants travelling from within Australia. Please submit your abstract by 30 September 2026 to Niloufar.baghernia@anu.edu.au .

For further information, please visit 

https://cais.cass.anu.edu.au/events/middle-east-and-central-asia-futurescapes-rethinking-politics-culture-and-technology

For any questions, please email the organisers at Niloufar.baghernia@anu.edu.au, Gulshat.rozyyeva@anu.edu.au and Khalid.AlBostanji@anu.edu.au