Feras Alkabani

Dr. Feras Alkabani is Associate Professor in Arabic and Comparative Literature at the University of Sussex, School of Media, Arts and Humanities, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Middle East and North Africa Centre at Sussex (MENACS). His academic journey began with a BA in English Language and Literature from Damascus University, followed by postgraduate studies at Sussex, where he earned an MA in English (Critical Theory) and PhD in English (Comparative Literature). His scholarly profile is distinguished by his position as Co-President of the Syrian Academics and Researchers' Network in the UK (SARN UK), which he successfully secured AHRC funding for in 2023, and his role as Trustee of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES).

Dr. Alkabani's research expertise spans fin-de-siècle Orientalist literature, particularly examining Sir Richard Burton and T.E. Lawrence through the lens of homoerotic desire and Arab sexuality. His groundbreaking 2024 monograph Richard Burton, T.E. Lawrence and the Culture of Homoerotic Desire: Orientalist Depictions of Arab Sexuality (Bloomsbury) has generated significant academic interest and is now on reading lists internationally. His scholarly interests also encompass Arabic literary scholarship in the Nahda movement, comparative approaches to love and desire in European and Arabic literatures, postcolonial Arabic literature, and interfaith dialogue. His research has been published in international peer-reviewed journals including the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies and Routledge Handbooks.

Dr. Alkabani's scholarly output shows a clear trajectory toward examining queer representations in Arab literature and resistance art, particularly in the wake of the Arab Spring. His recent publications increasingly focus on artistic expressions of queer Arab resistance, examining works by artists like Art Queer Habibi and Mashrou' Leila alongside literary figures such as Saleem Haddad. His research demonstrates how contemporary LGBTQ artists from the Middle East are using creative expression to assert visibility and challenge socio-political constraints.

• Won AHRC grant for SARN UK (2023)
• Outstanding or Innovative Undergraduate Teaching Award (2016-17)
• Nominated for 'Teaching to Disrupt' Award (2024)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education with Distinction (2018)
• Featured expert in award-winning documentaries including 'Who Killed Lawrence of Arabia?'

As an educator, Dr. Alkabani has taught a wide range of multidisciplinary modules across Literature, Creative Writing, History, Liberal Arts, Language, Cultural Studies, International Development, and Anthropology. His supervisory experience includes five doctoral students across comparative literature, translation studies, linguistics, and media studies. His AHRC-funded SARN UK network has created significant opportunities for collaborative research on Syria, culminating in the successful international conference 'Rebuilding Syria: Reflections, Innovations and Collaborations' at Sussex in September 2025.

Dr. Alkabani's MENACS leadership and SARN UK presidency position him at the forefront of Middle Eastern and Syrian academic studies in the UK. His work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement through media appearances, documentary contributions, and cultural events like the Silk Road Talk and Exhibition featuring ceramicist Carole Bennett. His research continues to evolve toward examining contemporary expressions of queer Arab resistance and the intersections of art, politics, and identity in the post-Arab Spring landscape.