The Australian National University's Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS) is celebrating the success of four new Doctor of Philosophy graduates whose research addresses some of the most pressing political, social and strategic questions facing the Middle East and its neighbouring regions.

The announcement continues the Centre's strong record of doctoral success, with CAIS maintaining one of the highest PhD completion rates across CASS at ANU. Reflecting the quality and significance of the Centre's research training, examiners commended each of the four theses for their outstanding academic scholarship and recognised them as making significant contributions to their respective fields. Their work arrives at a particularly important time, when conflict, geopolitical transformation and heightened international attention on the Middle East have reinforced the value of rigorous, evidence-based scholarship.

Together, the four graduates examine contemporary questions of foreign policy, regional power, energy transition and state-society relations, drawing on original research to advance understanding of a rapidly changing region.

Understanding Iran's Strategic Turn to China

Dr Niloufar Baghernia's thesis, Iran's China Pivot: Neoclassical Realist Vision (2005–2024), investigates why Iran maintained its strategic shift towards China across successive governments despite significant ideological and political differences between administrations.

Drawing on neoclassical realist theory, Dr Baghernia argues that changing global power dynamics created the structural conditions for Iran's eastward pivot, while domestic political leadership shaped its pace and character. Her research demonstrates how Iran actively sought to position itself within emerging Asian-centred economic and diplomatic networks rather than merely reacting to external pressure.

The thesis also makes an important theoretical contribution by demonstrating how the cumulative actions of a sanctioned middle power can reinforce broader processes of systemic change, challenging assumptions that international transformations are driven primarily by great powers alone.

Reassessing Turkey's Regional Influence

In Protector, Partner, Powerbroker: Turkish Smart Power in the Arab Region Post-2011, Dr Khalid Al Bostanji explores how Turkey sought to redefine its role across the Arab world in the decade following the Arab Uprisings.

Through detailed case studies of Palestine, Libya, Syria and Iraq, and the Gulf states, Dr Al Bostanji shows how Turkey combined military capability, diplomacy, economic engagement and identity-based narratives in an adaptive strategy of "smart power". His research argues that Ankara's regional influence cannot be understood through hard or soft power alone, but through the interaction of political narratives, domestic legitimacy and shifting regional dynamics.

The thesis offers a nuanced framework for understanding Turkey's evolving foreign policy and the opportunities and constraints shaping its regional ambitions.

Examining Europe's Role in Central Asia's Green Transition

Dr Margaret Norington's thesis, Expediting Green Transition in Central Asia: The European Union's Regional Engagement 1991–2021, analyses three decades of European Union engagement with the five Central Asian republics following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Based on extensive fieldwork, interviews and primary-source research, the study demonstrates the EU's sustained commitment to supporting renewable energy, climate action and institutional development across the region. It also challenges assumptions that the EU is unable or unwilling to engage effectively with authoritarian political systems.

By examining the differing energy transition pathways of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan alongside wider regional developments, the thesis provides important insights into the complex relationship between energy security, economic development, governance and climate policy in Central Asia.

Revealing How Gulf Monarchies Respond to Society

Dr Tony Allison's thesis, Feeling the Pulse of the Street: Socio-Cultural Demands and Regime Responsiveness in the Arab Monarchies of the Gulf, examines an often-overlooked dimension of politics in the Gulf: how governments respond to citizens' socio-cultural concerns.

Using Kuwait, Qatar and Oman as comparative case studies, Dr Allison demonstrates that Gulf governments frequently adjust policies in response to public demands relating to cultural values, identity and social norms. His research extends theories of authoritarian responsiveness and performance legitimacy by showing that responsiveness extends beyond economic or political concerns to include socio-cultural issues.

The thesis offers a fresh perspective on state-society relations in the Gulf and contributes to broader debates about governance and authoritarian politics.

Research with Global Relevance

The breadth of these four doctoral projects reflects the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies' commitment to producing internationally recognised research that combines theoretical innovation with deep regional expertise.

Collectively, the graduates have examined strategic competition, diplomacy, energy transitions and governance across the Middle East and neighbouring regions, producing scholarship that informs contemporary policy debates while advancing academic understanding of complex regional transformations.

Their achievements underscore the Centre's reputation for research excellence and doctoral training.