Near East Policy Forum

  • Mapping the Politics of Saudi Arabia’s Sports Investments

    Saudi Arabia continues to make news with its investments in sports with the Saudi Pro League football clubs recently privatised, LIV Golf agreeing to a merger with the PGA and DP Tours, and a host of player transfers to the country’s top football clubs. Many observers have been shocked by the pace, reach, and unexpected…

    Simon Chadwick and Paul Widdop

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    A visual representation of investments made by Saudi Arabia in sports
  • Central Asia’s significance in a Future Multipolar World

    Central Asia’s significance in a Future Multipolar World

    As global dynamics continue to shift, the importance of countries in the Global South, such as those in Central Asia, is further elevated. This elevated importance helps explains the recent expansion of BRICS into Central Asia, and reflects the region’s growing economic and geopolitical significance. Central Asia, with its strategic location and abundant resources, has…

    Gulshat Rozyyeva

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  • How a re-elected Labor Government can hold Israel to account

    How a re-elected Labor Government can hold Israel to account

    The ALP’s landside victory gives it the necessary political capital to hold Israel to account.

    Chris Fitzgerald

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  • Kazakhstan’s Turn to Nuclear

    Kazakhstan’s Turn to Nuclear

    When it comes to nuclear power, Australian and Kazakhstan share many similarities with both countries currently considering their nuclear futures. While Australian opposition leader, Peter Dutton continues to advocate for the development of a domestic nuclear power industry as part of his 2025 election campaign, Kazakhstan’s government is moving ahead with construction of its first…

    Gulshat Rozyyeva

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  • The Language of Landscapes in Palestine and Australia

    The Language of Landscapes in Palestine and Australia

    Earlier this year, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump asserted the US would not only take over Gaza but transform it into what he described as the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’. His comments have been roundly criticised as tantamount to a violation of the Geneva convention, which…

    Zoe Davies

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  • Central Asian Migration Patterns and Their Implications for Australia

    Central Asian Migration Patterns and Their Implications for Australia

    Only small numbers of Central Asia migrants make their way to Australia yet the experience in the broader Asia Pacific suggests that this could be a missed opportunity for Australia to benefit from skilled Central Asian migrants.

    Gulshat Rozyyeva

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  • Turkmenistan’s Political Future amid Growing Australian Ties

    Turkmenistan’s Political Future amid Growing Australian Ties

    The strengthening of ties between Australia and Turkmenistan comes as domestic politics in the Central Asian states settles into a new pattern following last year’s leadership transition.

    Gulshat Rozyyeva

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  • The Assassination of Haniyeh and the Fragility of Iranian Security

    The Assassination of Haniyeh and the Fragility of Iranian Security

    The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran not only underscores profound vulnerabilities within Iranian intelligence but also could potentially mark a shift in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Likely orchestrated by Mossad, this operation exploited critical weaknesses in Iran’s Communications Intelligence (COMINT) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), revealing not just external penetrations but possibly…

    Mohd Amirul Asraf Bin Othman

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  • A Weaker Taliban After Three Years in Power

    A Weaker Taliban After Three Years in Power

    Is the Taliban as strong as it looks? The group continues to face several problems it is either unable or unwilling to solve. While seemingly secure in the short-term, it could threaten to undermine its hold on power in the coming years.

    Chris Fitzgerald

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  • Are the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea a Solidarity Campaign or a Ruse?  – or is not the Right Question

    Are the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea a Solidarity Campaign or a Ruse?  – or is not the Right Question

    Recently, there has been a surge of interest in Yemen following the Houthi military campaign attacking ships traversing the Red Sea. But why and how have their campaigns increased the groups popularity both regionally and beyond?

    Kamilia Al-Eriani

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  • Central Asia and the Conflict in Ukraine: Russia-Friendly Neutrality

    Central Asia and the Conflict in Ukraine: Russia-Friendly Neutrality

     Since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have adopted a neutral stance towards the conflict. Their leaders have carefully avoided passing value judgement on the war which Dushanbe, for one, still calls  “an incident that occurred between the two states” …

    Kirill Nourzhanov

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