Annual Conference: Asia Update. Transformations and Futures of the Middle East in April 2026

Please note that each session includes three presentations (except for the Young Researchers’ Session, which includes four), followed by a group discussion. Each individual presentation should be 20 minutes long.

1. Politics, Governance and Civil Society in Transition
Across the Middle East, states are navigating the difficult balance between maintaining stability and pursuing reform. Political systems face pressures from economic transformation, social mobilisation, and shifting regional alliances while seeking new sources of legitimacy and governance models that can respond to public demands. Examples range from Saudi Arabia’s top-down modernisation under Vision 2030 to Tunisia’s contested democratic experiment, Lebanon’s ongoing struggle with governance paralysis and Palestine’s fragmented political landscape shaped by long-term instability and external constraints. This session examines how Middle Eastern governments manage these transitions and how civil society actors contribute to, or are constrained within, these evolving political landscapes. In some contexts, civic organisations and grassroots initiatives are increasingly vital in promoting transparency and participation. In others, they encounter heightened restrictions and shrinking spaces for activism. The discussion also addresses the broader dynamics of political resilience: how states manage dissent, how institutions adapt to uncertainty, and how international actors influence local governance reforms. By analysing these diverse trajectories, the panel seeks to understand the paths through which Middle Eastern countries negotiate change and pursue sustainable political futures.

2. Between Power and Faith
Religion continues to serve as a source of legitimacy, moral authority, and collective identity in the Middle East, yet its influence on governance and policymaking remains complex and constantly negotiated. Across the region, diverse examples illustrate this dynamic interplay. In Israel, religious parties play a decisive role in shaping coalition politics, while in Lebanon, the confessional system intricately links religion to political representation. In Syria and beyond, religious narratives have been mobilised by both states and opposition movements to assert legitimacy and moral authority. Together, these cases reveal how religious and state institutions coexist in a state of dynamic tension — at times cooperating, at others competing for influence and public trust. This session explores the role of religion in shaping political life, policy agendas, and social transformation in the region. The discussion also considers how dialogue within Islam, and between Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and the Druze tradition, contributes to understanding, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance. By examining both cooperation and contestation between religious traditions and political authorities, the panel highlights how dialogue and mutual recognition can foster pluralism and civic trust in changing societies.

3. Environmental Pressures and Economic Restructuring
In the Middle East, where many states are navigating the transition from resource-dependent to more diversified economies, balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability represents a crucial part of their strategic vision of development. The region faces a complex interplay of climate change, resource scarcity, demographic growth, and ongoing efforts to diversify and restructure its economies. Water governance, the green energy transition, the implementation of sustainable trade practices, and the adoption of green innovation – all these aspects of environmental sustainability are inseparable from those of economic policy and regional stability. This session seeks to shed some light on three overarching questions. Firstly, how do states, institutions, and private actors in the Middle East seek to balance economic prosperity and growth with environmental sustainability? Secondly, the panel examines how the environmental arena could become a domain for economic cooperation and joint projects, asking how sustainable development can serve as a driver of cooperation and resilience. Across the region, examples such as the Jordan–Israel water and energy cooperation projects and the United Arab Emirates’ investments in renewable energy and sustainable technologies illustrate how environmental pressures and economic ambitions can intersect to foster both innovation and regional dialogue. These initiatives also signal a gradual move toward a broader green transition – one that aims not only for economic growth but also for environmental sustainability. Finally, the discussion seeks to understand how the region’s environmental and economic transformations, along with choices made to pursue sustainability, shape its possible futures.

4. Europe and the Middle East: Perceptions, Narratives, Relations
A complex mix of historical legacies, strategic interests, and shifting perceptions has long shaped Europe’s engagement with the Middle East. As the region undergoes rapid transformations, Europe faces the challenge of understanding and responding to developments that are often narrated through competing frames – from security and energy to culture and human rights. Strategic cooperation with Turkey on regional security and diplomacy and EU-Gulf initiatives on renewable energy and climate policy illustrate how Europe’s engagement with the Middle East combines pragmatic interests with long-term aspirations for partnership and stability. This session focuses on how Europe sees, speaks about, and relates to the Middle East. It explores how political discourse, media representation, academic research, and diplomatic practice construct Europe’s understanding of the region and how these narratives, in turn, influence policymaking. Participants will discuss both perceived risks and emerging opportunities for cooperation.

5. Small States, Big Influence: The Rise of the Gulf Mediators
Once perceived as peripheral actors, the small states of the Gulf, like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, have emerged as influential players in the region and on the global stage. Through strategic diplomacy, economic diversification, and ambitious branding, they have positioned themselves as mediators in regional conflicts, hosts of international dialogue, and hubs for education, culture, and innovation. Examples such as Qatar’s investment in global media networks like Al Jazeera and its role in mediation and humanitarian initiatives, together with the United Arab Emirates’ use of international platforms such as COP28 and Expo 2020 Dubai to advance climate diplomacy and soft power, illustrate how financial resources, communication, and image-building are mobilized to expand influence and shape global narratives. This session examines how these states leverage their political agility, economic capacity, and international partnerships to project influence beyond their size. It explores the interplay between image-building, soft power and media strategy, asking how the small states of the Middle East navigate regional rivalries while crafting new models of governance, legitimacy, and global engagement. In doing so, the discussion highlights how the rise of the Gulf’s small states reshapes both the regional balance of power and global perceptions of the Middle East.

Early-career Researchers’ Session
Early-career researchers play a vital role in shaping the future of Middle Eastern studies. The PhD session provides a dedicated platform for early-career scholars to present their work, exchange ideas, and engage with peers and senior academics. It reflects the conference’s broader commitment to supporting the next generation of scholars working on the region. The session brings together doctoral students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds whose research engages with the complex transformations unfolding across the Middle East. Their projects address questions about governance, religion, sustainability, regional and international affairs, offering fresh perspectives on how change is initiated, negotiated and experienced. Through presentations and discussion, the PhD student’s session encourages constructive feedback and collaboration across institutional and thematic boundaries. It aims to cultivate a vibrant intellectual exchange between emerging and established researchers, contributing to the collective effort to understand the present and imagine futures of the Middle East.

Abstract application deadline for the annual Asia Update conference is February 9, 2026!

Your submission should include:

• Your full name, title, affiliation and email address
• An abstract of your presentation in English (length 250-300 words), including title and up to five keywords

You will be notified by February 23 whether your abstract has been accepted. Accepted participants will be expected to register by April 24.

Important Dates!

• Conference dates: 23.04-24.04.2026
• NEW! deadline for abstract submission: 09.02.2026
• The notification of acceptance will be sent: 23.02.2026
• Registration for presenters and other participants: 24.02.-15.04.2026
• The deadline for article submission: 01.09.2026