About Fethi Mansouri (PhD; FASSA)

Distinguished Professor (Dr) Fethi Mansouri holds the UNESCO Chair for Comparative Research on Cultural Diversity and Social Justice (2013-) and has held a Research Chair in migration and intercultural studies (2008-13). He is the founding Director of the Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) in Australia (2015-26). He has written and edited over 20 scholarly books on themes pertaining to migration, multiculturalism, cultural diversity, social justice and intercultural dialogue.

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Recent News 

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Multiculturalism and the false promise of social cohesion’
Multiculturalism and the false promise of social cohesion’

In this public seminar, Professor Mansouri proposes a relational-democratic conception of social cohesion as the continually negotiated capacity of a diverse democracy to sustain equitable institutions, reciprocal relationships, legitimate disagreement and a shared but plural sense of belonging. A sustainable Australian model must combine multicultural justice with transformative intercultural practice.

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Launch of the ARC African Diaspora Impact Project
Launch of the ARC African Diaspora Impact Project

Professor Mansouri noted that this report makes a timely and important intervention. For too long, public debate about African Australians has been organised around a narrow repertoire of problems ranging from unemployment and crime to youth disengagement and social disadvantage. These issues should not be ignored, but African Australians are making an impactful contribution to Australian society across so many domains.

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Australia needs a migration debate worthy of a multicultural democracy
Australia needs a migration debate worthy of a multicultural democracy

Professor Mansouri argues that Australians can demand a better managed migration system. but more critically, we must also demand a debate worthy of the diverse, resilient democracy we aspire to be.

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The government’s response to Islamophobia report is big on lofty ideals, short on details
The government’s response to Islamophobia report is big on lofty ideals, short on details

Read Fethi’s article in the Conversation which argues that the response of Albanese government to the special envoy’s report on Islamophobia in Australia, doesn’t go nearly far enough to address the scope of the problem.

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Prof Fethi Mansouri appointed Adjunct Professor at South Mediterranean University
Prof Fethi Mansouri appointed Adjunct Professor at South Mediterranean University

Fethi has been appointed Adjunct Professor for the next three years at South mediterranean University in Tunisia.

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Ramadan, racism and the moral test facing Australian universities
Ramadan, racism and the moral test facing Australian universities

Professor Fethi Mansouri wrote an Opinion piece, reflecting on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and a new report on racism in Australian universities in the wake of rising islamophobia.

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‘Not met their duty of care’: new report finds racism is widespread at Australian unis
‘Not met their duty of care’: new report finds racism is widespread at Australian unis

Read Professor Fethi Mansouri’s article for The Conversation, responding to the release of a report on racism at universities.

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Named leading Australian researcher in Human Migration 2026
Named leading Australian researcher in Human Migration 2026

For the third year in a row, Professor Fethi Mansouri was named the leading researcher in the field of Human Migration, in The Australian’s 2026 Research Magazine.

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2025 UNESCO Oration
2025 UNESCO Oration

The UNESCO Oration this year was an enormous success, featuring Daniela Gavshon, the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch.

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Iraq UNESCO Chairs Conference: Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence
Iraq UNESCO Chairs Conference: Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence

Professor Fethi Mansouri had the great honour to record and offer opening remarks at the ‘Iraq UNESCO Chairs Conference: Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence’.

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Islamophobia in Australia, antisemitism's ignored cousin
Islamophobia in Australia, antisemitism's ignored cousin

Professor Fethi Mansouri has published his thoughts on the National Response to Islamophobia report in Michael West Media.

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Australia stands at a crossroads
Australia stands at a crossroads

Read Professor Mansouri’s article in ABC’s Religion & Ethics, responding to the recent marches against “mass migration.”

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