A range of international and national speakers will analyse radicalisation and Islamophobia at a major conference in Sydney this week.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation is co-hosting the 2^nd Australasian Conference on Islam: Radicalisation and Islamophobia in collaboration with the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy Australia in Sydney on Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December.

The Director of the CSU Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and lecturer in theology, philosophy and history Associate Professor Mehmet Ozalp said academics from 11 Australian universities and six overseas universities will attempt to understand and resolve the problems of radicalisation and Islamophobia.

"The conference will enable distinguished international and local academics to provide invaluable insights and solutions to the problems of radicalisation and Islamophobia," Professor Ozalp said.

"Experts from other organisations will also contribute to panel discussions. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from, interact and network with experts across diverse disciplines, and academics, students, community leaders, social activists and all others interested are invited to attend.

"We are also fortunate to have a leading expert, Professor John Esposito from Georgetown University, USA, to deliver the opening keynote address on the topic 'Islamophobia and radicalisation: Its roots, impact and implications'."

Professor Esposito's presentation explores how Islamic State (IS) recruits from Western societies have triggered a global emphasis on countering violent extremism.

The Head of the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu will present a paper on 'The impact of social media on extremism, radicalisation and Islamophobia; religious extremism, media power and the construction of otherness'.

In it he argues that Western media theorists and academics have shied away from proper understanding or analysis of Islamic communication models.

"Exclusion breeds ignorance, contempt, otherness, resistance or all of the above," Professor Anyanwu said.

"Post-September 11, there has been a growing fear or resentment or avoidance in understanding the Muslim world. This has created and exacerbated the political and cultural divide between Muslims and non-Muslims."

The full conference program can be found here.