Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies Lund University

21/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Anne Lene Stein, former CMES researcher at Lund University, on winning the EISA Best Dissertation Award 2026 for her thesis Agonism against the Odds: Epistemic Disruptions and Bodies of Dissent in Palestine and Israel.

We're proud to see Anne Lene's work receiving international recognition.

👉 Read the article! https://www.cmes.lu.se/article/anne-lene-stein-wins-eisa-best-dissertation-award

17/08/2026

👉 On Thursday, August 13, Lisa Strömbom appeared on Swedish Radio’s Studio Ett (P1), where she commented, together with correspondent Lina Mahler, on the expanding settlements in the West Bank and the United States’ condemnation of Israel following the siege of Palestinian villages in the West Bank by violent settlers. In Swedish.

Israeliska bosättare uppges sedan söndags ha blockerat tre palestinska familjers hus i Qusra nära Nablus på den ockuperade Västbanken.

07/08/2026

Lisa Strömbom appeared as an expert commentator on Radiokorrespondenterna Mellanöstern on 4 August. The discussion focused on reports of a possible agreement to disarm Hamas in Gaza in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal. The programme highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the proposed deal, as neither Israel nor Hamas had clearly confirmed its contents or conditions.

In her commentary, Lisa Strömbom analyzed the political challenges facing the negotiations, the prospects for breaking the long-standing deadlock, and the conditions required for a sustainable agreement to become a reality.

Enligt Donald Trump finns ett avtal om att avväpna Hamas i Gaza. Men Israel och Hamas har inte samma syn på avtalet och frågan är om det blir verklighet.

22/06/2026

Read the latest CMES newsletter

From new "CMES Regional Outlook" on The future of Iran’s nuclear activities to insights from the ECO‑Syria Project. The latest edition of the CMES newsletter offers a snapshot of ongoing research and dialogue on the Middle East at Lund University.

In this issue:
• New interdisciplinary research projects on mobility, urban futures, and sustainability
• Reflections from seminars on Gaza, US-Iran relations, and environmental change in Syria
• Recent publications and media contributions from CMES researchers
• Upcoming events, including the autumn seminar series and our Open House in September

👉 Read the newsletter https://app.bwz.se/lunduniversity/b/v/?vid=160&v=16&share=1&ucrc=F804816B7B

Happy summer from all of us at CMES!☀️

10/06/2026

Workshop proposal
CMES funds 1-2 new workshops per year and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers from different disciplines within Lund University. Application deadline: 31 August 2026.

Read the call: https://www.cmes.lu.se/strategic-research-area-middle-east/cmes-calls-and-research-grants

10/06/2026

CMES Research Initiation
The Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) provides seed money for research initiation and preparation of applications for national and international research calls. Application deadline: 31 August 2026.

👉 Read the call: https://www.cmes.lu.se/strategic-research-area-middle-east/cmes-calls-and-research-grants

03/06/2026

📣 CMES seminar thursday: Eco-Syria
Join us tomorrow as the Eco-Syria research team presents insights from three years of interdisciplinary research on the links between conflict, environment, and sustainable development in Syria.

📅 13:15–14:30
📍 CMES seminar room, Finngatan 16, Lund
Open to all – coffee and pastries will be served afterwards ☕

👉 Read more: https://www.cmes.lu.se/calendar/cmes-seminar-eco-syria-exploring-conflict-environment-interactions-sustainable-development-and

👉 Read more about the Project: https://www.cmes.lu.se/strategic-research-area-middle-east/research-projects/eco-syria-exploring-conflict-environment-interactions-sustainable-development-and-conservation

29/05/2026

📣 CMES book-talk: Dalia Dassa Kaye examined how American domestic politics, political framing, and missed opportunities for engagement have shaped US policy towards Iran.

👉 Read the article: https://www.cmes.lu.se/article/book-talk-enduring-hostility-making-americas-iran-policy

28/05/2026

📣 New CMES Regional Outlook
Is Iran really pursuing nuclear weapons — or is it trying to achieve something more complex?

In this new CMES Regional Outlook, Hebatalla Taha and Dina Tawfik examine Iran’s nuclear posture, highlighting the concept of nuclear latency and its implications for diplomacy and regional dynamics.

👉 Read the article: https://www.cmes.lu.se/article/future-irans-nuclear-activities