Shahram Akbarzadeh
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 202495 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Shahram Akbarzadeh |
| NOMBRES | Shahram |
| APELLIDO | Akbarzadeh |
| FIRMA | AKBARZADEH S |
| AFILIACIONES | Deakin University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8829-9147 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 84 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 248 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 73 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 11 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 1996 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 8 |
Beyond defection
This article uses narrative analysis to examine disillusionment among former ISIS foreign fighters through a dataset of publicly available media interviews. The study draws on these journalistic accounts and conceptualises disillusionment as a process emerging from interconnected factors of deception, unmet expectations, inhumane practices and coercion. A central pattern across the narratives is the dissonance between recruits’ initial beliefs an…
Between Justice and Pragmatism
This study explores the integration of Islamic ethical discourse into Indonesian foreign policymaking in relation to Palestine, specifically in responses to the Gaza crisis. It traces Indonesia’s engagement with both normative ideals and pragmatic strategies in domestic and international contexts. Drawing on primary sources, including United Nations (UN) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) statements, this study examines the significance of …
Promoting Authoritarianism? Continuity and Change in China’s Policy Towards Myanmar (1990–2023)
Social media, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism
Social media, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism: between bread and geopolitics in Egypt
Israel’s 12-day war on Iran and the Russian fighter jet exports
Israel’s 12-day war on Iran and the Russian fighter jet exports: A geopolitical analysis
The Double-Edged Sword
Utilizing data from the Arab Barometer surveys, this study distinguishes between social media and the internet’s general use and their usage for political purposes, examining whether political engagement—obtaining political information and expressing political opinions—on these platforms bolsters or undermines democracy in authoritarian contexts. Initially, political engagement on social media and the internet was positively linked with support f…
Diffusion of digital authoritarian practices in China’s neighbourhood
The web of Big Lies
The 2022 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests in Iran have led to the escalation of state-sponsored online disinformation campaigns. This paper aims to examine how, amidst a growing legitimacy crisis, the Iranian regime has employed a 'Big Lie' to shatter hopes for change by discrediting influential dissidents and hindering the formation of an effective opposition movement. Three target groups have borne the brunt of this strategy: celebrities, politi…
Iranian Drones at the Service of Authoritarian Geopolitics
Since the beginning of the 2020s, Iran has increasingly employed its drone technology in geopolitical conflicts beyond its borders. The Iranian leadership asserts that a new world order is emerging, signified by American decline. This paper offers new insights into how the Iranian regime has employed its drone technology to challenge US interests and advance a revisionist worldview. Drawing on critical geopolitics, the paper conceptualises ‘Autho…
A dialogical appraisal of diasporic women’s work to impact change in Iran
How do women in the Iranian diaspora contribute to change in their homeland? Drawing on narrative accounts from activists and advocates, this paper offers insight into whether and how change occurs in relation to diasporic initiatives. The results highlight women’s perceived success in public education and awareness-raising activities that focus on procedural, discursive and legislative change. At the same time, despite enjoying freedom in the di…
Legacies and futures for Global South research
Contestations of Internet Governance and Digital Authoritarianism in Pakistan
The existing literature on Internet governance offers important insights on the relationship between state and society in China and the West. It is important to explore this relationship in the developing world. This study focuses on Pakistan, exploring the role of relevant legal frameworks, political authorities, and institutional structures in relation to monitoring and regulating telephone traffic, legal compliance, and consumer interests. By …
China’s Soft Power
China has emerged as a formidable actor in the Middle East, expanding its engagement with the region well beyond its quest for resources. It has adopted a multilayered approach and engaged with the region through diplomacy, economic investments, security, and cultural outreach. This complex web of engagement is designed to promote China as a reliable partner and role model in the Middle East. China has developed a conscious soft power projection …
Handbook of Middle East Politics
Item does not contain fulltext
Iranian proxies in the Syrian conflict
This article examines Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy, in particular its deployment of proxy forces in the Syrian conflict. Iran’s expanded presence in regional conflicts is regarded by its adversaries as indication of hegemonic intent, while Tehran posits its regional posture as a defensive response to security threats. We argue that Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy offers practical benefits, shaping strategic realities, and performative bene…
Socio-Economic Disadvantages and Lack of Recognition
Despite a significant body of scholarship exploring the impact of securitisation and racism upon Australian Muslims, comparatively little work has been undertaken exploring the specific socio-economic challenges facing Muslim communities and resultant impacts upon citizenship. Even less research has looked at this in the context of the ‘9/11 generation’ of young Western Muslims born at or just prior to the turn of the century. Drawing upon Nancy …
Pakistan, Pan-Islamism, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Pan-Islamism had resonated strongly with Muslim political leaders of the Indian sub-continent, including those inspired by Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī, credited with coining the term. These political leaders included prominent members of the All-India Muslim League, who were at the forefront of the Indian Muslims' struggle for a separate homeland that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. It is therefore no surprise that Islam and pan-Islamism bec…
Middle East Politics and International Relations
Iran's Feminist School in the Diaspora
This article explores the mechanisms behind the demobilization of the Feminist School, the self-proclaimed 'intellectual wing' of the Iranian women's movement, which was established as an online forum in 2008. For a short time, the Feminist School was at the forefront of framing the Iranian women's movement and provided the conceptual tools for its strategy setting. In the years following the disputed presidential election of 2009, however, many …
Soft power, hard power dynamics
The concept of soft power was developed at the end of the Cold War to examine international influence through non-coercive means. In recent years, a growing field of research has drawn on this concept to examine the role of religion and culture in the foreign policies of Middle Eastern states. The existing research tends to view soft power from the perspectives of states that project such influence, not the impact of these policies on target soci…
The China Model and Its Detractors in Iran
In the last decade, China's rapid economic growth has become a hot topic for politicians and intellectuals in Iran. Iranian views on China and its development model are ambiguous and contradictory, despite exponential growth in trade between the two countries. Three broad views have emerged in Iran about the Chinese way of progress. The pragmatic moderates advocate rapid economic development while keeping tight political control, which is broadly…
Registered NGOs and advocacy for women in Iran
Registered women’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Islamic Republic of Iran occupy a critical space in the socio-political landscape. They are neither government insiders nor anti-regime activists, instead advocating for incremental change within the constraints of the system. Drawing on interviews with NGO leaders, this article sheds light on the objectives and activities of five registered women’s organisations as they work in the …
Iran’s soft power in Pakistan
States use elements of their culture to promote their influence in countries of strategic importance to them. Despite a growing body of literature on soft power, there is a shortage of literature on Iran’s influence in its neighbourhood. How is Iran viewed in Pakistan? This article is based on in‐depth interviews and an online survey with informed participants in Pakistan. Our findings demonstrate that while many participants view Tehran’s polici…
The Taliban is actively developing relationships with regional powers as it makes territorial gains in Afghanistan
Routledge Handbook of Political Islam
"This updated, second edition of the Handbook of Political Islam covers a range of political actors that use Islam to advance their cause. While they share the ultimate vision of establishing a political system governed by Islam, their tactics and methods can be very different. Capturing this diversity, this volume also sheds light on some of the less-known experiences from South East Asia to North Africa [...]."
The Muslim Question in Australia
Islamophobia has become a significant problem across the Western world. Australia is no exception. The emergence of far right groups and a political environment that allows anti-Islamic discourse has created an increasingly unwelcome environment for Muslims, even though multiculturalism has long been a fundamental marker of Australian daily life. The rise of Islamophobia has been damaging to Australia. This paper explores the rise of anti-Islamic…
Muslim active citizenship in Australia
The most recent national Census demonstrated that Australian Muslims continue to occupy a socioeconomically disadvantaged position. On key indicators of unemployment rate, income, type of occupation and home ownership, Muslims consistently under-perform the national average. This pattern is evident in the last three Census data (2001, 2006 and 2011). Limited access to resources and a sense of marginalisation challenge full engagement with society…
Muslims, Multiculturalism and the Question of the Silent Majority
Cultural diversity is the norm in Australia and the United Kingdom. Both states celebrate multiculturalism. But some populist politicians, commentators, and quasi-academics have recently portrayed Western Muslims as a "fifth column", organized and intent on destroying the fabric of Western culture from within. Interestingly, extremist Muslim groups in the West make similar claims about the relationship between Islam and the West. In recent years,…
State Identity in Iranian Foreign Policy
This article examines the role of corporate identity in Iran’s foreign policy making. Drawing on interviews with Iranian stakeholders and an analysis of Iran’s political developments, this article surveys the three key elements of Iranian nationalism that shape Iranian foreign policy: Iranism, Islam and Shi’ism. This article finds that each of these is crucial in explaining the apparent contradictions in the approaches of several significant Iran…
Investing in Mentoring and Educational Initiatives
The Australian Government has tried to counter the threat of Islamic extremism by investing in mentoring and educational initiatives. Fearful of the potential for "home-grown" extremism, especially after the July 2005 London attacks, the Australian authorities seek to counter the narrow-minded narrative of extremism by sponsoring "moderate Islam". This approach is aimed at presenting a counter-ideology to Islamism, and has had some success. But i…
Why did nationalism fail in Tajikistan
(1996). Why did nationalism fail in Tajikistan? Europe-Asia Studies: Vol. 48, No. 7, pp. 1105-1129
Intra- Jihadist Conflict and Cooperation
The proliferation of jihadist groups raises intriguing questions about their internal relationship. Drawing on Resource Mobilization Theory we explore this question by examining the relationship between the Taliban and the local incarnations of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syrian (ISIS) in Afghanistan. We conceive the Taliban and ISIS as parts of a broader “jihadist movement industry” that is simultaneously united and divided by the logic of the…
National Identity and Political Legitimacy in Turkmenistan
This paper traces political events and modes of generating legitimacy in Turkmenistan since the Soviet collapse. The emphasis here is on state policies and social movements that relate to “nation building” for their contribution to political legitimacy. The extent of nation-building success is not an immediate subject of inquiry, for this paper is not about public perception and bottom-up response to state policies, but the reverse. It is certain…
Pakistan caught between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Pakistan claims to maintain neutrality in the Iran–Saudi rift. Sustaining this approach, however, has been problematic against a backdrop of intensifying Iran–Saudi rivalry. Pakistan’s choices suggest a tilt towards Saudi Arabia. Based on extensive fieldwork in Islamabad, this paper focuses on the meanings and uses of neutrality in Pakistan’s foreign policy. The paper argues that Pakistan cannot be neutral due to its stronger cultural, economic a…
Great Power-Middle Power Dynamics
Iran is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China and Iran had a track record of cooperation long before the announcement of BRI, developing a highly asymmetric Great Power-Middle Power partnership over the course of three decades. This article asks whether BRI will enable China and Iran to transcend the limitations faced by most Great Power-Middle Power relationships on the basis of Iran’s enha…
Impacts of Saudi Hegemony on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Iran and Daesh
Iran and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
n\t\t\t\t\tThe Islamic Republic of Iran has pursued full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). In doing so, Iran has appeared to be unfazed by the prospect of allying with Russia and China, two countries which have systematically suppressed their Muslim minorities for decades. Similarly, the SCO's Central Asian member states are led by individual leaders who are generally believed to rule in spite of their populations. As a r…
Where is the Islamic republic of Iran heading
The ‘war on terror’ has had significant repercussions for the Islamic Republic of Iran in both international and domestic arenas. In the international context, Iran is finding itself isolated. Gains made by the moderate leadership of President Khatami in normalising relations between Iran and the West appear to have been lost. In the domestic arena, the moderates seem powerless against the concerted advances of the hardliners, most evident in the…
Iranian proxies in the Syrian conflict
This article examines Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy, in particular its deployment of proxy forces in the Syrian conflict. Iran’s expanded presence in regional conflicts is regarded by its adversaries as indication of hegemonic intent, while Tehran posits its regional posture as a defensive response to security threats. We argue that Iran’s ‘forward-defence’ strategy offers practical benefits, shaping strategic realities, and performative bene…
Iran’s soft power in Pakistan
States use elements of their culture to promote their influence in countries of strategic importance to them. Despite a growing body of literature on soft power, there is a shortage of literature on Iran’s influence in its neighbourhood. How is Iran viewed in Pakistan? This article is based on in‐depth interviews and an online survey with informed participants in Pakistan. Our findings demonstrate that while many participants view Tehran’s polici…
The Iranian Kurds' transnational links
This paper examines the impact that cross-border contacts and ideals of transnational Kurdish community have on Kurds in Iran. Incorporating survey and interview data from Iranian Kurdish academics, journalists and activists, it analyses how events in the broader Kurdistan region, and the notion of Kurdayetî - pan-Kurdish identity - are perceived by Kurds and how these phenomena affect the Kurdish issue. Within the context of long-standing politi…
Why does Iran need Hizbullah
n\t\t\t\t\tThe political and military commitment of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Hizbullah in Lebanon has gone through the baptism of fire once again. The Syrian crisis has become a critical theatre of war for the three way alliance between Iran, Hizbullah and Syria, celebrated as the ‘axis of resistance’ in Tehran. The Iranian leadership has used the Syrian crisis to further consolidate its ties with Hizbullah and warn potential enemies of th…
Sectarianism and the prevalence of ‘othering’ in Islamic thought
n\t\t\t\t\tThe current sectarian conflicts in the Middle East did not arise solely from renewed geopolitical rivalries between regional powers. They are also rooted in a solid, theological articulation proposed by classic Islamic political theology. The exclusivist approach, which is a decisive part of the political, social and religious reality of today’s Middle East, benefits from a formidable theological legacy. Coining the notion of ‘othering…
Nation‐building in Uzbekistan
The Double-Edged Sword
Utilizing data from the Arab Barometer surveys, this study distinguishes between social media and the internet’s general use and their usage for political purposes, examining whether political engagement—obtaining political information and expressing political opinions—on these platforms bolsters or undermines democracy in authoritarian contexts. Initially, political engagement on social media and the internet was positively linked with support f…
China’s Soft Power
China has emerged as a formidable actor in the Middle East, expanding its engagement with the region well beyond its quest for resources. It has adopted a multilayered approach and engaged with the region through diplomacy, economic investments, security, and cultural outreach. This complex web of engagement is designed to promote China as a reliable partner and role model in the Middle East. China has developed a conscious soft power projection …
Iran's Feminist School in the Diaspora
This article explores the mechanisms behind the demobilization of the Feminist School, the self-proclaimed 'intellectual wing' of the Iranian women's movement, which was established as an online forum in 2008. For a short time, the Feminist School was at the forefront of framing the Iranian women's movement and provided the conceptual tools for its strategy setting. In the years following the disputed presidential election of 2009, however, many …
Registered NGOs and advocacy for women in Iran
Registered women’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Islamic Republic of Iran occupy a critical space in the socio-political landscape. They are neither government insiders nor anti-regime activists, instead advocating for incremental change within the constraints of the system. Drawing on interviews with NGO leaders, this article sheds light on the objectives and activities of five registered women’s organisations as they work in the …
The Taliban
Iran has pursued a highly contradictory policy towards Afghanistan. On the one hand, it became a significant beneficiary of the overthrow of the Taliban regime by the US-led military intervention in 2001 in Afghanistan. The new Afghan government established cordial ties with Iran, allowing it to expand its political, economic and cultural influence in the country. Yet Iran has also provided significant support to the Taliban in its campaign to vi…
Why did nationalism fail in Tajikistan
(1996). Why did nationalism fail in Tajikistan? Europe-Asia Studies: Vol. 48, No. 7, pp. 1105-1129
Nation‐building in Uzbekistan
A note on shifting identities in the Ferghana valley
The political shape of Central Asia
Islamic clerical establishment in Central Asia∗
National Identity and Political Legitimacy in Turkmenistan
This paper traces political events and modes of generating legitimacy in Turkmenistan since the Soviet collapse. The emphasis here is on state policies and social movements that relate to “nation building” for their contribution to political legitimacy. The extent of nation-building success is not an immediate subject of inquiry, for this paper is not about public perception and bottom-up response to state policies, but the reverse. It is certain…
Islam and Regional Stability in Central Asia
Political Islam in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan
Islam and Political Legitimacy
Islam and Politics Shahram Akbarzadeh and Abdullah Saeed 2. The official ulema and religious legitimacy of the modern nation state Abdullah Saeed 3. Saudi Arabia: Re-reading politics and religion in the wake of September 11 Larbi Sadiki 4. The politics of reform in the Islamic Republic of Iran Farideh Farhi 5. Pakistan and the struggle for 'real' Islam Samina Yasmeen 6. The Islamic dilemma in Uzbekistan Shahram Akbarzadeh 7. Failure of the 'welfa…
A New Direction
India and Pakistan's geostrategic rivalry in Central Asia
Pakistan has suffered a serious blow to its regional aspirations since the toppling of the Taliban in Afghanistan. In contrast, its South Asian rival India is finding Afghanistan and its northern neighbours welcoming a larger role. Despite its late entry into the region, India appears to be set to make significant gains at Pakistan's expense. The India–Pakistan rivalry in Central Asia is concentrated on that region's vast energy reserves, its geo…
Keeping Central Asia stable
Contrary to optimistic assessments on the stabilising impact of the US troop deployment in Central Asia, the long‐term prospects for regional stability are far from certain. The American entry into Central Asia has complicated the geostrategic dynamics of the region and engaged the three great powers and regional players in intense rivalry for influence and leverage. If there was ever a ‘Great Game’ at play in the post‐Soviet era, it is now. The …
U.S.-Uzbek Partnership and Democratic Reforms
In March 2002 the United States and Uzbekistan signed a Declaration of Strategic Partnership. This document marked a qualitative break in the international relations of Uzbekistan and, to some degree, the United States' relations with Central Asia. Uzbekistan had sought closer relations with the United States since its independence in September 1991. But the course of U.S.-Uzbek relations was not smooth. Various obstacles hindered Tashkent's prog…
The Organization of the Islamic Conference
Among Dr. Akbarzadeh's latest publications are Uzbekistan and the United States: Authoritarianism, Islamism and Washington's Security Agenda (London: Zed Books, 2005) and Islam and the West: Reflections from Australia (Sydney: UNSWPress, 2005). Ms. Connor researches Islamic militancy in the West.1
Where is the Islamic republic of Iran heading
The ‘war on terror’ has had significant repercussions for the Islamic Republic of Iran in both international and domestic arenas. In the international context, Iran is finding itself isolated. Gains made by the moderate leadership of President Khatami in normalising relations between Iran and the West appear to have been lost. In the domestic arena, the moderates seem powerless against the concerted advances of the hardliners, most evident in the…
Uzbekistan and the United States
Uzbekistan, the most strategically situated Central Asian country, has exhibited the most appalling record on human rights and democratic reforms. Yet, post - September 11, a transformation in US policy has suddenly taken place. US troops are now stationed there; Washington has put the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan on its list of terrorist organizations; and the Bush administration has promised to triple aid to President Karimov's highly authori…
Does the Hamas victory advance peace in the Middle East
Bringing democracy to the Middle East is fraught with unanticipated complications. According to conventional wisdom democracies do not go to war with each other. But the electoral victory of Hamas
Women's rights in the muslim world
The issue of gender inequality is an acute problem in countries where women's lives are governed by laws, and configured by customs and traditions, said to derive from Islam. In the second half of the 20th century, two Muslim feminist paradigms have emerged in response to this malaise. Islamic feminists aim to establish women's rights within the Islamic framework by re-interpreting Islam's holy sources. In contrast, secular feminists challenge th…
Islam and Political Violence
n\t\t\t\t\tHow do we engage with the pressing challenges of xenophobia, radicalism and security in the age of the "war on terror"? The widely felt sense of insecurity in the West is shared by Muslims both within and outside Western societies. Growing Islamic militancy and resulting increased security measures by Western powers have contributed to a pervasive sense among Muslims of being under attack (both physically and culturally). Islam and Pol…
U zbekistan and the U nited S tates
Islam and Human Rights in Practice
Questions over the compatibility of Islam and Human Rights have become a key area of debate in the perceived tensions between 'Islam and the West'. In many ways, discussion over the stance of Islam in relation to such factors as gender rights, religious freedom, social and political freedoms, and other related issues represents a microcosm of the broader experience of how Muslim and 'Western' communities interact and relate. This volume seeks to …
Obama and the US policy change on Iran
President Barack Obama has inherited an unenviable legacy in relation to Iran. Relations between Iran and the United States have suffered blow after blow in the last three decades. The Iranian revo
America’s Challenges in the Greater Middle East
Barack Obama has faced many challenges in reversing U.S. policy on the Middle East. This book highlights points of resistance to Obama's efforts regarding U.S. foreign policy and what lessons may be l
Muslims, Multiculturalism and the Question of the Silent Majority
Cultural diversity is the norm in Australia and the United Kingdom. Both states celebrate multiculturalism. But some populist politicians, commentators, and quasi-academics have recently portrayed Western Muslims as a "fifth column", organized and intent on destroying the fabric of Western culture from within. Interestingly, extremist Muslim groups in the West make similar claims about the relationship between Islam and the West. In recent years,…
Democracy Promotion versus Engagement with Iran
US President Barack Obama has tried two very distinct policy options in dealing with Iran. The engagement policy was designed to make a break with the past experience and re-start US-Iran relations on a positive footing. This approach was consistent with the advice offered to the new administration by Iran analysts and leaders of non-governmental organisations. The implication of the engagement policy, however, was sidelining the US commitment to…
Political science (76 obras) · Law (67 obras) · Politics (63 obras) · Sociology (54 obras) · Law (51 obras) · Political economy (39 obras) · Islam (30 obras) · Economics (28 obras) · Islamic Studies and History (25 obras) · Geography (24 obras)