17.08.2026
research

Middle Eastern research direction

The Asia Centre's research activity in the direction of the Middle East

The Middle Eastern research direction focuses on current religious, economic and security matters in the Middle East and North Africa. Multiple and varied issues are researched. These include China's and India's concepts and influence in the Middle East, the Middle East's greatest environmental challenge - diminishing water supplies -, and the importance and meaning of religion for Middle Eastern societies in the context of different problems.

The priorities of the research direction:

  • to analyse the geopolitical strategies of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa and the impact of China in these countries;
  • to support the development of the relations between Estonia and the Middle East and North Africa through reports, seminars and research reports;
  • to promote cooperation between Estonian researchers and the education system with Middle Eastern and North African partners;
  • to ensure that European and Estonian decision-makers have access to independent high-quality information about Middle Eastern and North African states.

Connected projects:

  • Süld, Elo. (2026) China as a responsible alternative to the US in the Middle East: Climate change mitigation in Iraq. In A. Nitza-Makowska, A. Ranjan, & E. Süld (Eds.), Power, responsibility and climate crisis in the Global South. Routledge.
  • Süld, Elo, & Bhutia, Kikee. D. (2026) Erinevad maailmajaod – samad väljakutsed: Veepuuduse probleemid ja lahendused Iraanis ja Himaalajas. Idakiri: Eesti Akadeemilise Orientaalseltsi aastaraamat.
  • Süld, Elo., & Syliwoniuk-Wapowska, Agnieszka. (2026) Beyond language? CEE students in MENA universities. In K. Górak-Sosnowska (Ed.), Migrants or expats? Exploring migration from Central and Eastern Europe to the Middle East and North Africa. Brill.
  • Süld, Elo. (2026) The fear of the other as negative self-image: Normalising the Muslim question in the secular Estonian context. Przegląd Religioznawczy, xx–xx.
  • Süld, Elo. (2022) Multicultural education in Estonia: Why is it powerless in responding to Islamophobia? Society Register, 6(2), 61–86. https://doi.org/10.14746/sr.2022.6.2.04
  • Haas, Helen. (2020) Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî tähendus Buca alevi kogukonna silmade läbi. Usuteaduslik Ajakiri 78(2): 63-89.
  • Süld, Elo. (2016) Koranforschung – Eine politische Philologie? Bibel, Koran und Islamentstehung im Spiegel spätantiker Textpolitik und moderner Philologie [Book review]. Judaica: Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, 72(1), 151–152.
  • Süld, Elo. (2014) Paulus und Muhammad als Gesandte im Lichte ihrer Berufungsgeschichten mit Bezug auf die biblische sowie islamische Tradition. Usuteaduslik Ajakiri, 67, 111–132.
  • Süld, Elo. (2012) Ettekujutusi islami paradiisist ja paradiisineitsitest ning nende seos džihaadi ja märterlusega. Usuteaduslik Ajakiri, 63, 103–127.
Coordinator of the research direction
Helen Haas
Helen Haas
PhD (Religious Studies)
School of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Tartu Asia Centre
Middle East Coordinator, 0.3 p
Ülikooli 18–308
Member of the research group
Elo Süld
Elo Süld
PhD (Theology)
School of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Tartu Asia Centre
Head of Centre
Ülikooli 18–308
School of Theology and Religious Studies
Chair of Comparative Religious Studies
Associate Professor of Islamic Studies
Ülikooli 18–308
Member of the research group
Anu Põldsam
Anu Põldsam
PhD (Theology)
School of Theology and Religious Studies
Chair of the Old Testament and Semitic Studies
Lecturer in Jewish Studies, Teaching Excellence Ambassador, Programme Director of the BA curriculum in Theology and Religious Studies
Ülikooli 18–309