We are SEPAD High impact, international research from academics and policy makers working in the field
Background About Us
Recent Reports
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
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.

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Sepad Reports

Religion and Geopolitics in Iranian Foreign Policy

Saudi Arabia and Iran, as key power brokers in the Middle East, continue to couch their bilateral relations in antagonistic terms as they chafe against each other in a battle for influence in the region. Characterising this rivalry in the purely s...

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The View From Riyadh

Most analysis of the Saudi-Iranian rivalry seems to miss the fundamental points that underline the tension.1 Iran is trying to save itself from either foreign intervention or domestic unrest...

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SWAR project featuring SEPAD fellows publishes special issue on Sectarianism and Regime Formation

Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, vol. 19, 1 (2019) - Special Issue on ‘Sectarianism and Regime Formation in a New Middle East’ Guest edited by Raymond Hinnebusch and Morten Valbjørn

This special issue of Studies i...

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Events

Call for Papers: Discoursing Sectarianism: Patterns, Trajectories and Identities from 1979 Onwards 30th Jun 2021
Call for Papers: Oil in Saudi-Iranian Relations 1st Jul 2021
Call for Papers: Sects and the City II 26th Jul 2021
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Announcements

Funding for New Project Received
Funding for New Project Received Simon Mabon - 12th Apr 2021

SEPAD is delighted to announce that it has received f...
Publications and Activities
Publications and Activities Simon Mabon - 5th Mar 2021

Our Fellows have been incredibly productive over the past year. Below is...
Abir Chaaban Award
Abir Chaaban Award Simon Mabon - 7th Oct 2020

The Inaugural Abir Chaaban Award:

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From Twitter

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SEPAD is supported by the following organisations

Carnegie Corporation of New York Lancaster University Richardson Institute The Foreign Policy Centre