Sectarianism: The threat to Australia
Channel: ANU TV
Date: 2014-08-06

Neither the presence of Australian foreign fighters overseas nor sectarian-related security concerns in Australia are entirely new to this country. However, in this NSC public seminar, Dr Shanahan argued that the current issues surrounding Australian jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq are qualitatively different. He addressed a range of questions including:

• What is the motivating force of these foreign fighters?
• Why are their numbers increasing?
• What are the most effective measures to deter their foreign involvement?
• What are the short and longer term consequences for Australia?

Dr Rodger Shanahan is a leading expert on political Islam, as well as sectarianism in Islam and the Middle East. He is the author of Clans, Parties and Clerics: the Shi’a of Lebanon and holds MAs in International Relations and Middle East and Central Asian Studies from the ANU, and a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies from the University of Sydney. A former Australian Army officer with extensive service in the operations and planning fields, Dr Shanahan has seen operational service in South Lebanon, Syria, East Timor, Beirut and Afghanistan. He has also served in the Australian embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.