SOAS in the Media: December 2025

Addressing racism and the far-right rhetoric

• Professor Olivette Otele wrote for Portuguese publication Publico on racism, and the potential risk of the silent majority becoming complicit with far-right rhetoric.

Reactions to the UK budget

• Researcher Alex Dryden wrote for The Conversation on How financial markets have reacted to the UK budget.

New Labor reforms in India 

• Dr Surbhi Kesar featured on Al Jazeera, discussing new labor reforms set about in India.

The livelihood of farmers in Zambia 

• Professor Stephen Chan, OBE was interviewed by BBC News, and BBC World Service on relations between Zambia and China, following toxic spills that have contaminated soil in the country.

More on China’s international relations

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang featured in a roundtable from The Royal Society of Asian Affairs to discuss geopolitics and economics across China.
• Professor Steve Tsang discussed the Hong Kong fire and looming elections with Bloomberg, The Washington Post, New York Times, Associated Press , The Independent and more.
• Professor Tsang featured Le Temps on the impasse of relations between Japan and China, in regard to Taiwan.
• Professor Tsang also spoke with ABC News Australia, and LBC News on UK and China relations, following the progress of the Chinese embassy being built in London.

The genocide in Gaza 

• Emeritus Professor Gilbert Achcar was interviewed by France24, to analyse and critique the US’s peace plan in regard to the genocide in Gaza.

Mining in Myanmar

• Researcher Dr Xu Peng shared insight with Undark on Myanmar, and illicit rare earth mining that is having ramifications in areas of the region.

Weapons technology across world nations

• Professor Dan Plesch wrote for The South China Morning Post on the rapid expansion of weapons technology that could be cause for concern across China, Russia and the US.

Mali and the Sahel region 

• Dr Tessa Devereaux featured on the Behind The Lines Podcast on the end of Western intervention in Mali and the Sahel region.

Resilience in sustainability 

• Dr Harald Heubaum featured in an article from Forbes on nations across the world building resilience surrounding sustainability efforts.

Addressing security in Nigeria 

• Dr Folahanmi Aina was interviewed by German publication DW around Nigeria’s security crisis. 

Bangladesh’s former leadership 

• Dr Avinash Paliwal featured with BBC News Marathi on the life of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Iran’s Gen-Z movement

• Researcher Dr Katayoun Shahandeh spoke to BBC Radio 4’s ‘World at One’ programme to discuss Iran’s Gen-Z movement in defiance of the country’s laws.

Exploring Buddhist landscapes 

• Dr Stephen Murphy’s book featured in the New Books Network podcast on Buddhist landscapes.