We are SEPAD High impact, international research from academics and policy makers working in the field

Saudi Arabia, Iran and De-Escalaton in the Persian Gulf Simon Mabon - 24th Jun 2020

E-Conference Simon Mabon - 22nd Jun 2020

Urban Spaces and Sectarian Contestation Simon Mabon - 28th Feb 2020

What We Do

The Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project based at Lancaster University’s Richardson Institute is a collaborative project aimed at understanding the conditions that give rise to sectarian violence and proxy conflicts.

Sepad Reports

After years of proxy war, Saudi Arabia and Iran are finally squaring up in the open

Ever since Saudi Arabia executed Shia Cleric Nimr al-Nimr for terrorist offences, tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been escalating by the day.
Relations between Riyadh and Tehran have been tense ever since the Islamic Republic ...

Sectarianism as Plan B: Saudi-Iranian identity politics in the Syria Conflict

Saudi Arabia and Iran have both been deeply involved in the Syrian civil war from its beginning in 2011, each sponsoring rival sides. Both have utilised sectarian identity politics to further their goals and both have contributed to the growth of ...

Iraq and Muhasasa Ta’ifia; the external imposition of sectarian politics

In the aftermath of invasion and regime change in 2003, Iraq’s political field was deliberately and overtly restructured around an informal version of consociationalism, the Muhasasa Ta’ifia (sectarian apportionment) system. This exclusiv...

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Events

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Announcements

Saudi Arabia, Iran: Resilient Rivalries and Pragmatic Possibilities Simon Mabon - 23rd Jun 2020

Simon Mabon & Edward Wastnidge

Th...

SEPAD Receives Additional Funding From Carnegie Corporation Simon Mabon - 22nd Apr 2020

SEPAD is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $400,000 fr...

Urban Spaces and Sectarian Contestation: Concluding Remarks John Nagle - 8th Mar 2020

Cities are laboratories in which sectarian divisions are dialecti...

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From Twitter

ProjectSEPAD

Thread on our recent event! Thanks @EllieRalphPhD for the excellent synopsis. https://t.co/4e3kfddrnw

ProjectSEPAD

At 4PM BST the 27th July we launch a new feature: #SEPADDiscusses where we host a panel of experts to talk about a new book in the field, along with the author. First up is the fantastic @fanarhaddad with a panel of @mortenvalbjorn and Charles Tripp. Stay tuned for more info.

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SEPAD is supported by the following organisations