This year’s conference was titled Tracing (in)stability, challenges and change from Iran to the Gulf and took place on 7 October, with more than 150 people joining the event on Zoom and YouTube.

The keynote speaker was Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman who touched on the fight for equality and opportunity across the region in her address.

Across three panels, discussants examined environment and economics, civil society and human rights, and conflicts and security. The event was organised by King’s College London PhD candidates, Sofia Patel and Ahou Koutchesfahani.