SOAS University of London

Diplomacy in Practice: Lessons from a Career on the Frontlines.

Event marks the launch of How to Be a Diplomat, a new book by Dr Nicholas Westcott, Prof of Practice in Diplomacy at SOAS.

🗓️This Thursday 2 October - register to attend.

bit.ly/4gO5Osz

SOAS event 📣 Polymath Robeson: American Renaissance Man

As part of the Polymath Festival, we are delighted to host a discussion of the life and work of Paul Robeson, a distinguished alumna of SOAS.

📆 25 September, 6pm

Register: www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...

The SOAS Concert Series has returned with events for the first semester of the 2025/26 academic year! 🎶

Showcasing music from around the world, the series features an array of both international legends and up and coming talent.

Find out more and get your tickets: bit.ly/4nzHtss

A group of graduates in robes clap and smile.

A woman in a grey and gold graduation robe smiles while in a queue.

Zeinab Badawi smiles at a grad holding his baby.

A family pose for a photograph at graduation outside.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 🎓.

Last week, we had the joy of celebrating the achievements of our graduates with the families and friends who supported them along the way.

To our newest SOAS alumni: We can't wait to see what you do next.

#SOASGrad #graduation #classof2025

Wael Al Dahdouh

Few tickets remaining!

Reporting Gaza: A Public Talk with Wael Al Dahdouh - 8 Sept at SOAS.

Al Jazeera’s Bureau Chief in Gaza is hosted by the SOAS Department of Media Studies, in collaboration with Al Jazeera and the SOAS Islaah student society.

👉 Register to attend: bit.ly/47pH7Qz

We have been brainwashed into thinking there is no alternative to free market policy, says Ha-Joon Chang Ha-Joon Chang, professor of economics at SOAS University of London, discusses economic growth and challenges the orthodoxy of economics.

Prof. Ha-Joon Chang was interviewed by @cnbc.com on challenging the traditions around economics and free market policy.

bit.ly/4fPu4tQ

Judgement day for former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra in royal insult case Looming ‘lese majeste’ court ruling holds royal reckoning for Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"A guilty verdict, could trigger a new round of political conflicts."

Thai Law & Policy Fellow Verapat Pariyawong spoke to @aljazeera.com on the forthcoming verdict for Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra in a controversial royal insult case.

bit.ly/3HJspsY

📰 Our Japan Research Centre has partnered with Xebio Holdings, one of Japan’s largest sports enterprises to launch a new internship programme for SOAS students studying BA Japanese.

Read more: bit.ly/3UE9oeA

As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels, what are the alternatives? Long-term use of hotels poses numerous challenges to those living there.

As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels, what are the alternatives?

Professor Giorgia Doná, Dr Charlotte Sanders, and Dr Paolo Novak provided insight to @uk.theconversation.com

Read more: bit.ly/4oqGDiY

📰Professor @fionaadamson.bsky.social has received a special grant from The British Academy to boost collaborative efforts of migration research in Global South.

Read more: bit.ly/45hJIut

China’s Leninist industrial policy is creating instability at home and abroad | George Magnus Overcapacity – from electric vehicles to high-speed rail to housing – is destroying profits as well as GDP

"The threat posed by low-price Chinese products to local jobs and communities, deskilling, and premature deindustrialisation is ubiquitous."

Research associate George Magnus wrote for @theguardian.com on the instability of China's industrial policy.

bit.ly/3UP8ls6

Newshour - Israel to let some commercial goods into Gaza - BBC Sounds Israel has authorised the gradual re-entry of goods to Gaza via private traders

Professor Mushtaq Khan featured on BBC World Service to discuss plans for Bangladesh’s new political constitution and declaration for reform.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Why an explosive fight erupted over the UK's new Chinese embassy It will be the biggest embassy in Europe, if approved. But its opponents fear it brings with it certain risks and dangers

Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang provided insights to BBC News on the controversies surrounding the UK's new Chinese embassy.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The US has sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese – here’s why she’s the wrong target UN special rapporteurs provide pro bono advice and expertise on vital latters of international law.

"Despite these attacks on her integrity and person, Albanese maintains faith in the human rights law instruments."

Dr @alvinahoffmann.bsky.social writes for @uk.theconversation.com on the imposed sanctions against UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese.

bit.ly/3IM5E83

📣 What do we inherit? What do we resist? What are we becoming together?

Join us tomorrow for the SamaBhav travelling film festival, exploring cinema, conversation, and community reflection.

Register: bit.ly/3H08MfR

🏆 Classic ballet dance wins best performance at annual Chinese Bridge!

Read more about the winner, our very own student Lucy Hirst: bit.ly/4lDlsZb

Taiwan’s once-dominant KMT falls ‘out of step’ with the electorate [FREE TO READ] Party that has failed three times to win presidency since 2016 faces reckoning over its ties to China in looming recall vote

"The KMT membership seems to be increasingly out of step with the average Taiwanese citizen in terms of age and ideology."

Prof Dafydd Fell commented in an article with @financialtimes.com on the fragility of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) political party.

bit.ly/46WnGOS

Business Today - 21/07/2025 Bringing the latest business news and up-to-date informed analysis from London and around the world.

Dr Kate Bayliss spoke on the BBC News 'Business Today' programme to discuss the UK government’s new plans to update water systems across the country.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

BBC Radio 4 - You're Dead to Me, Alexandre Dumas: author of The Three Musketeers Join Greg and his guests to learn all about acclaimed French novelist Alexandre Dumas.

Distinguished Research Professor Olivette Otele features on this week's episode of "You're Dead to Me" from BBC Radio 4, diving into the life and times of 19th century author Alexandre Dumas.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Now open at @soasgallery.bsky.social: “After the Assembly: Constituting India”

Marking 75 years of the Indian Constitution, this tells how India forged its path as a new republic, and of its ownership and remaking by today’s students, artists & ordinary citizens.

www.soas.ac.uk/about/news/s...

Fingers on buzzers please...

We're thrilled to be cheering on our SOAS University Challenge team, as they face UCL in the show's first heat next Monday 21 July!

Best of luck from the whole SOAS community 👏

Read: www.soas.ac.uk/about/news/s...

Image: Lifted Entertainment/Ric Lowe

When it comes to political assembly and expression, who decides what constitutes a "threat"?

As the government expands its proscriptive powers, @soasicop.bsky.social convenes a discussion on its impact for free speech and civil liberty.

Sign up: www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...

From colony to kingmaker: Azerbaijan redraws Eurasia’s balance of power The ex-Soviet republic aims to play a bigger role in the Caucasus and is willing to upset Moscow and Tehran in the process, analysts say.

As Azerbaijan sets out to strengthen its position by forging alliances with Turkey and Pakistan, SOAS Professor Bhavna Davé tells @scmpnews.bsky.social what this means for its relations with Iran and Russia.

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Can Brazil’s supercows feed the world? <p>Brazil’s Zebu cattle, or “supercows” are bred for size, strength, and meat quality. Every year the animals are showcased at ExpoZebu, Brazil’s premier cattle fair. These animals are preened, pamper...

Teaching Fellow Oscar Broughton featured on BBC World Service’s 'The Inquiry' podcast, discussing if Brazil’s ‘supercows’ can feed the world.

bit.ly/4eEntBP

📰 A new exhibition opens in China, exploring 1000 years of Yoga!

Launched by the Centre for Yoga Studies, ‘Embodied Liberation: The History of Physical Yoga’ looks into the origins, development and traditions of Yoga in India, and how it has evolved across the world - bit.ly/44zDqER

Dalai Lama lays out succession plan, denying Chinese efforts at control The Tibetan Buddhist leader, who turns 90 on Sunday, appears concerned that Beijing will sweep in after his death to install the next Dalai Lama.

Professor Robbie Barnett shared insight with @washingtonpost.com on the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and plans for a future successor.

bit.ly/46kSj08

EU’s shift to a US savings model risks dismantling its social contract Political choices should be debated democratically, not hidden in technocratic agendas of ‘financing gaps’

"Europe, is permanently at a crossroads. But this time, it seems existential as the region faces the challenge of fickle allies and stronger economic competitors."

Professor Daniela Gabor writes for @financialtimes.com on the risks around the EU adopting the US's saving model.

bit.ly/3TPMq3x

What are the connections between sport and religion? New research exploring this topic in Africa secures €2.3 million funding from @erc.europa.eu.

Find out more: bit.ly/46mBZvQ

China Steals Language and Home Life From Tibetan Kids as Young as 4 Beijing is building a broad network of preschools across Tibetan areas, seeking to inculcate loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party early in life.

As China's network of preschools grow in Tibet, Professor Robbie Barnett gave context to @wsj.com on the history between the two nations.

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

A pile of books with coloured spines showing the pattern of a rainbow

Reading with Pride: Celebrating LGBTQ+ books in the SOAS Library 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@soaslibrary.bsky.social spotlight three LGBTQ+ books that have faced censorship and tell stories of resilience, resistance, and queer expression from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Read the blog: bit.ly/3HZJMWf