Azim Zahir

Dr. Azim Zahir is a Lecturer at Curtin University's School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, within the Faculty of Humanities. His research focuses on intersections of religion, politics, and international relations, particularly in South Asia. He holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Western Australia (UWA, 2019), alongside a BA (Politics and Philosophy, Flinders University, 2008) and a Master of Human Rights (University of Sydney, 2011).

His work employs interdisciplinary approaches to study religious nationalism, political violence, and democratization. A key publication is his 2023 book examining Islam's role in Maldivian democratization, arguing that reformist Islamic frameworks shaped both political progress and enduring religious-political constraints. His current research explores ideational dimensions of the India-China rivalry in South Asia.