The West Asia Program examines political, economic and strategic developments in the Middle East, Central and Southwest Asia, especially as they impact on Australia. Key research issues include West Asian responses to the rise of China, Australia’s relations with the Persian Gulf, the Arab Uprisings, Afghan views of the international intervention in Afghanistan, and Islamist and Islamic connections between West Asia and Southeast Asia.

Major pieces of research have focused on the transmission and influence of Islamist ideas and activism from the Middle East and South Asia to Indonesia, on Islamist participation in democratic politics, and on Australia’s relations with the United Arab Emirates.  The program has organised major bilateral dialogues between Australia and the United Arab Emirates and Australia and Pakistan.  Currently the main focus of research in the West Asia Program is the responses of key states in the Middle East and Central Asia to the rise of China.