SOAS in the Media: October 2026

SOAS experts discuss China’s international relations, climate transition plans, Frances’ current state of economy, the life of Arabic historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldun and more.

International politics, economy and social media across China 

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang shared commentary with Bloomberg on the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
• Professor Tsang discussed the recent developments surrounding a military standoff between China and the US revolving around Taiwan, with Al Jazeera and Daily Caller. 
• Professor Tsang was also interviewed on his book with Danish publication Weekendavisen, surrounding China’s approach to global relations.
• Dr Carwyn Morris was interviewed on CCTV, discussing his research alongside society in China regarding social media.

Ethiopia and Yemen 

• Commentary from Professor Laura Hammond featured with Arabic language publication An Nahar on migration between Ethiopia and Yemen. 

Society in India and how recent protests are shaping things 

• Professor Pallavi Roy was interviewed by Daily Star Bangladesh’s Star Discourse programme on the recent youth protests in India, and how the country’s government are responding.

Discussing climate transition 

• Ulrich Volz spoke to Financial Times on how companies across the world publish their climate transition plans, following findings released by the International Transition Plan Network.

More on Brazil’s elections and the influence of agriculture 

• Dr Fernando Rugitsky featured with Valor International, taking more on agriculture affecting Brazil’s voting patterns in the run-up to the elections, with 

France’s economy 

• Doctoral Research Fellow Alex Dryden spoke to Al Jazeera on Frances’s rising debt and current state of economy.

The life of historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldun

• Emeritus Professor Hugh Kennedy featured on BBC Radio 4’s Human Intelligence Omnibus on the life of Arabic historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldun. 

The world of the Arts 

• Head of the School of Arts Professor Charlotte Horlyck featured in The Chosun Daily on a new exhibition by artist Jeon Gwang-young. 
  
   

SOAS experts discuss the recent protests over voting in India, the Houthi and Saudi conflict, housing distress, approaches to language and education in Nigeria and more.

Brazil’s elections and the influence of agriculture 

• Dr Fernando Rugitsky provided comment to BBC Brazil for the latest on the influence of agriculture on voters in Brazil’s electoral race.

The Houthi and Saudi conflict 

• Research Associate Rowena Abdul Razak spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live Drive programme on the conflict between the Saudi government and the Yemini-based Houthis.

Voting, politics and wider society in India 

• Director of the South Asia Institute Dr Subir Sinha was interviewed by France24 on major protests taking place against the Election Commission in India.
• Dr Sinha also spoke to France24 on Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s position amidst the protests. 

On the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize 

• Dr Nimer Sultany wrote for Zeteo on Nobel Peace Prize recipient and South African Judge Navi Pillay, who faced opposition from the US and Isreal for her position in the report of genocide in Gaza.

Overcoming housing distress 

• Dr Nikita Simpson was interviewed by BBC Radio West, discussing research on housing distress in the UK and how communities can overcome its challenge and difficulty. 

AI, geopolitics and history

• Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam featured on the Frontlines & Backrooms podcast, discussing his own research and work surrounding the myth of ‘good AI’. 

Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray 

• Professor Laura Hammond was interviewed by CGTN Europe and Australian-based SBS News on the latest escalation of conflict Ethiopia and Eritrea.
• Commentary from Professor Hammond was included in an article from The National Scotland.

Africa’s role in global affairs 

• SOAS Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib spoke on a panel with Global Affairs on African nations navigating international relations and partnerships

Approaches to language and education in Nigeria

• Doctoral researcher Chinazor Nwoda and Research Associate Kingsley Ugwuanyi wrote for Languages, Society and Policy on Nigeria’s new English-only policy and looking at a flexible approach to language use in education.

The work of the SOAS Ambedkar Society

• The SOAS Ambedkar Society featured with The Hindu, for their work in highlighting lived experiences of marginalized communities and overcoming systemic injustices in caste, gender, and race.

SOAS experts discuss global economies, Ethiopia and Tigray, African peace processes, politics in Brazil and more. 

More on the conflict in Tigray and tensions with Ethiopia

• Professor Laura Hammond shared commentary with Al Jazeera on fractured relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the latest on the conflict with Tigray through Al Jazeerza, and in an interview with CGTN.

Mapping Academic journeys

• SOAS Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib featured on the Inspire Us podcast, reflecting on his academic journey.

China on the global stage 

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang on was interviewed on the CSIS podcast and featured with Modern Diplomacy on China’s approach to global order and international tensions.
• Professor Tsang wrote a letter for The Times, on the values of understanding China’s position in funding for institutions in the UK.

Dissecting politics in Brazil 

• Dr Fernando Rugitsky shared commentary with BBC Brazil on ‘Agri-bolsonarism’ – a political and economic movement tied to agriculture in Brazil.
• Rugitsky also wrote for NLR on Brazil’s presidential race. 

A review on The Bank of England 

• Professor Costas Lapavitsas featured with The Guardian on the Bank of England and how it should rebuild industrial strength under review by the UK government. 

Funding changes in the UK and Europe

• Professor Steve Tsang shared commentary with Times Higher Education on how scientists are reacting to funding changes in the UK and Europe.

SOAS experts on international relations

• Dr Avinash Paliwal discussed geopolitical relations across Europe, in an article written with  Hindustan Times. 
• Professor of Practice Dr Nick Westcott was interviewed by LBC on Sat 3 Oct, talking about the current state of relation US-Iran and the Gulf states.
• Dr Michelle Staggs Kelsall featured with El Periodico and other Spanish publications surrounding the International Criminal Court and relations with the US.

Discussing FlyDubai and the responses of India’s leadership 

• Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute Dr Subir Sinha spoke to Times Radio, discussing India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position on the FlyDubai cockpit attack. 

Understanding African peace processes

• Professor Phil Clark featured with Yeni Yasam on African peace processes for the current peace negotiations between the Turkish government and the PKK, delving into amnesty, truth-telling and transitional justice.

Global economies and economies in Qatar

• Professor Ha-Joon Chang was quoted with Gulf Times on the AI bubble and its relationship with global economies and economy in Qatar. 

Tibet and political changes in China

• Research Fellow Professor Robbie Barnet featured with CNN Indonesia on political changes in China and how it reflects on policy, border security and society with Tibet.

The current state of climate finance

• Doctoral Research Fellow Alex Dryden featured on the Inspire Us podcast Talking through debt scandals and the current state of climate finance.

SOAS experts explore Xi Jinping’s meeting with Donald Trump, Tigray and Ethiopia, African nations at the UN General Assembly, the politics of development in Brazil and more.

Higher education and expanding global partnerships 

• SOAS Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib featured with Times Higher Education on how global partnerships can help UK institutions meet untapped demand and meet educational needs.

Relations between China and the US

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang was interviewed and featured with Sky News, LBC, Bloomberg News, DW News, CNA, Monocle Radio, Al Jazeera, Daily Mail on China’s leader Xi Jinping visiting the US to meet with Donald Trump.
• Other publications included Asia Link, EU Perspectives, FMT and more. 
• Professor Hong Bo was interviewed on BBC News programme The Context, discussing what is to come from the meetings between China and the US on international policy.

The conflict in Tigray and tensions with Ethiopia

• Professor Laura Hammond was interviewed by ABC News Australia and BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight on the rising tensions across Tigray and Ethiopia. 
• Professor of Practice Dr Nick Westcott also appeared on Channel 4’s Fourcast, discussing the tensions, and how it affects the Horn of Africa as a whole.

African nations at the UN General Assembly

• Dr Folahanmi Aina featured with Al Jazeera, surrounding Nigeria and African nations pushing for representation on the UN Security Council, which came into focus in the recent UN General Assembly.  

Approaches for renewable energy in Bangladesh

• Professor Mushtaq Khan involvement in a roundtable featured in Bangladesh-based publication The Business Standard, revolving around renewable energy in the country. 

The case of RAF Fairford

• Professor of Practice Dr Nick Westcott was interviewed by Nigerian broadcaster Arise News on the RAF Fairford incident, and how it is being investigated.
• Emeritus Professor Colin Shindler also wrote about this with The Jewish Independent. 

Economy in Qatar 

• Professor Ha-Joon Chang was interviewed by Gulf Times, discussing approaches that can be taken in Qatar to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas. 

Changes to global bond markets 

• Doctoral Research Fellow Alex Dryden wrote for The Conversation on how AI investments are affecting bond markets. 

Crude capitalism 

• Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute Professor Adam Hanieh was interviewed by Vila Web on his book ‘Crude Capitalism’, and how oil shapes capitalism across the world. 

Food agriculture in North Korea

• Researcher Professor Hazel Smith featured with Etoday on a legal case of food agriculture being raised between North Korea, Russia and Ukraine. 

The politics of development in Brazil 

• Dr Fernando Rugitsky wrote for Phenomenal World on the politics of development in Brazil, while also discussing the rise of the meat processing enterprise JBS.

Delving into Iranian culture and the arts 

• Dr Katayoun Shahandeh wrote for The Conversation on the work of artist Soheila Sokhanvari, and how it memorialises the stolen lives of Iranian cultural icons.

Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world

• Post-Doctoral Research Associate Dr Panggah Ardiyansyah in an article with CNN, discussed the symbolism of Borobudur, the world's largest temple.