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Afshin Shahi

Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Middle East Politics & International Relations at Keele University, Keele University
Dr Afshin Shahi is an associate professor (senior lecturer ) in Middle East politics and International Relations at Keele University. He obtained both his MA and PhD from the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University. Prior to joining the School of Social, Political, and Global Studies in 2023, he worked at the universities of Durham, Exeter, and Bradford.

In 2018 he was a visiting research fellow at the European University Institute in Florence. His research interests encompass Iranian politics, climate change and conflict, sectarianism, and political Islam in the Middle East. His articles have appeared in scholarly outlets including the Middle East Journal, the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, and the Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs.

He is the author of the Politics of Truth Management in Saudi Arabia (Routledge, 2013) and the co-author of a forthcoming book, Iran: the Shia State and the Sunni Minority. He has been part of various editorial boards and for about four years he was an associate editor of the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. He is a regular contributor to national and global media outlets including the BBC and Aljazeera. His opinion pieces have appeared in various publications including Forbes magazine, Foreign Policy magazine, and the Conversation. He also actively works with both practitioners and stakeholders in his field. In 2017, he was a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement at the University of Bradford.

His research interests include Middle East politics & security, political Islam and religious sectarianism. He is the author of 'The Politics of Truth Management in Saudi Arabia' and a number of peer-reviewed articles. He has contributed to international media outlets including, Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Bloomberg Business, the Telegraph, National Public Radio (US) ITV, Sky News and the BBC.

Iran: president’s death has set hardliners jostling for position to replace ageing supreme leader

Jun 05, 2024 04:16 am UTC| Politics

The death of Irans president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash in May plunged Iran into political uncertainly. Raisis death has set off an intense power struggle within the Islamic Republic. Irans consitution...

A year into the protest movement in Iran, this is what’s changed

Sep 18, 2023 05:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Irans rulers continue to enforce tight public controls as the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police approaches. Amini died after being arrested for allegedly breaching hijab...

Iranian protesters remain defiant in the face of violent and brutal regime oppression

Jun 21, 2023 07:28 am UTC| Politics

The vibrant, brave and unyielding voice of dissent remains strong in Iran despite months of brutal repression by the clerical regime. The women, life, freedom movement is an insistent call for change that is meeting the...

Economy

U.S. Economy Grows Faster Than Expected in Q2, Inflation Pressures Easing

The U.S. economy expanded faster than anticipated in the second quarter, with a 2.8% annualized growth rate driven by robust consumer spending and business investment. Inflation pressures eased, supporting expectations for...

China Central Bank Surprises Markets with Second Unscheduled Rate Cut This Week

Chinas central bank surprised markets again this week with an unscheduled rate cut, issuing 200 billion yuan in one-year loans at significantly lower rates to stimulate the economy and address sharp stock market...

Turkey Terminates Saudi Deposit, Reflects Growing Economic Confidence

On July 24, Turkeys central bank announced it terminated a $5 billion deposit transaction with Saudi Arabia, signaling increased confidence in rebuilding foreign exchange reserves independently. The move reflects Turkeys...

Japan's Factory Activity Declines in July, but Service Sector Sees Significant Growth

Japans factory activity contracted slightly in July as output and new orders fell, according to a business survey. However, the service sectors expansion led to overall growth in the private sector, with the au Jibun Bank...

China Cuts Interest Rates to Boost Economy Amid Growth Concerns

On July 22, China, the worlds second-largest economy, enacted unexpected interest rate cuts to stimulate its sluggish, debt-laden economy. The Peoples Bank of China lowered key rates by 10 basis points following...

Politics

Key MAGA Ally Warns Donald Trump Fans to Stop Contradicting Themselves

As the political landscape shifts with President Joe Bidens decision to exit the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and his supporters find themselves in a...

Donald Trump's Big Regret? Ex-POTUS Eyes Nikki Haley to Replace 'Dud' VP J.D. Vance Amid Campaign Turmoil

As Joe Biden steps down from the 2024 presidential race, making Kamala Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee, Donald Trump faces speculation about a significant shake-up within his own campaign. Reports suggest Trump...

Donald Trump Mocks Kamala Harris with Shocking Nickname: 'I Couldn't Care Less If I Mispronounce It'

Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, labeling her a bum and ridiculing the significance of pronouncing her name correctly during a speech in Florida. Speaking at a Turning Point event in...

Kamala Harris Surges as Working Families Party Nominee, Boosting 2024 Campaign Against Donald Trump

Vice President Kamala Harriss 2024 presidential campaign received a significant boost as the Working Families Party (WFP) officially nominated her, ensuring a strategic ballot line in New York and broad organizational...

FBI Confirms Bullet Struck Donald Trump During Assassination Attempt, Ending Speculation

The FBI confirmed late Friday that former President Donald Trump was indeed struck by a bullet during the assassination attempt on July 13, resolving earlier uncertainties about the incident. This update followed Trumps...

Science

SpaceX Falcon 9 Ready to Fly Again Saturday After Resolving Engine Anomaly

SpaceX is set to relaunch its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday (July 26) after a rare flight anomaly earlier this month. The company identified and fixed an engine issue, ensuring the rockets safety and readiness for its next...

SpaceX Reports 50,000 Collision-Avoidance Maneuvers by Starlink Satellites in Six Months

SpaceXs recent report indicates Starlink satellites executed 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers from December 2023 to May 2024, reflecting increasing traffic in orbit and raising concerns about potential...

SpaceX Unveils Design for ISS Deorbit Vehicle Using Dragon Heritage Hardware

NASAs decision to entrust SpaceX with constructing the ISS deorbit vehicle marks a significant milestone in space technology. SpaceX recently revealed a rendering of the car based on its Dragon spacecraft, which features...

SpaceX Completes Heat Shield Upgrade for Starship Ahead of Critical Flight 5 Test

SpaceX has completed a significant heat shield upgrade for Starship ahead of its fifth test flight. The upgrade aims to improve reentry safety following the issues from the fourth flight. A critical static fire test is...

SpaceX's New EVA Spacesuits Pass Testing for Historic Commercial Spacewalk

SpaceX has finalized acceptance testing of its new EVA spacesuits, marking a significant milestone for the Polaris Program. The suits will facilitate the first commercial spacewalk, led by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman,...

Technology

Bitcoin to Hit $13M! Michael Saylor's Bold Forecast at Bitcoin 2024 Stuns Audience

MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor stunned the Bitcoin 2024 audience with a prediction that Bitcoins price will hit $13 million per coin by 2045. Bold BTC Predictions for 2045 Michael Saylor, a vocal co-founder...

Bitcoin Climbs to $67K: 75% of Short-Term Holders in Profit

Bitcoin has surged to $67,000, placing over 75% of short-term holders in profit and suggesting further bullish momentum. With three-quarters of short-term Bitcoin holders now turning a profit, the cryptocurrency could...

WhatsApp Hits 100 Million Monthly Users in the US, Bridging iPhone and Android Gap

WhatsApp has reached 100 million monthly active users in the United States, marking significant growth in a market dominated by Apples iMessage and traditional texting. This milestone highlights WhatsApps role in bridging...

Sam Altman's Worldcoin (WLD) Soars 10% Amid Latest Strategic Update

Worldcoin (WLD) surged 10% in value, hitting $2.31, following a crucial update from its developers. Major Price Surge Details A tremendous increase in the value of Worldcoin (WLD) has recently occurred. In the past...

$3.9B Bitcoin Futures Expiry Could Trigger Price Drop Below $63K

On July 26, Bitcoin might experience price drops below $63,000 as $3.9 billion in futures contracts expire, raising market concerns. Deribits Significant Bitcoin Futures Expiry On July 26, more than $3.9 billion...