Department of Political and Social Sciences
The central position of Sardinia in the Mediterranean provides DiSPOL with the opportunity to be a key reference point on issues of international cooperation. Specifically, the most analyzed areas include cooperation with the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, particularly Tunisia, Palestine, and Israel, as well as the democratization of the northern Mediterranean countries. Legal issues related to vulnerability as a consequence of migration are also a significant focus. Regarding sub-Saharan countries, intensive research has been conducted on borders, their porosity, and their role in conflicts.
Projects Related to the Mediterranean and the Global South
- 2021-2022 Project “PLAN BLEU. CONSULTANCY: CLIMATE RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE TANGER-TETOUAN-AL HOCEIMA REGION, MOROCCO”, GEF MedProgramme, MedSea (Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation), focusing on the gender impact of environmental and climate risks
- The @GORÀ project (Sardinia-Palestine-Israel research group) in collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Controversies in Tel Aviv and the University of al-Qutb
- Research funded under Regional Law 7/2007: Democratization Processes in Arab Mediterranean Countries. The Role of Universities and Research Centers
- 2019-2021: Regional project financed with European funds on “The Protection of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors in Italy in Light of International and European Obligations: Towards New Interpretations of the Best Interest of the Child?”
- VULNER - Vulnerabilities Under the Global Protection Regime: How Does the Law Assess, Address, Shape, and Produce the Vulnerabilities of Protection Seekers? Guided by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (MPG) – Consortium partners: Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), Martin Luther University of Halle Wittenberg (MLU), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE), Institute for Social Research (ISF), University of Ottawa (uOttawa), McGill University (McGill), York University (YORKU), Centre for Lebanese Studies (CLS). Website: www.vulner.eu
- Project "BORDER FESTIVALS, PARTITIONED COMMUNITIES AND PRACTICAL GOVERNANCE IN WEST AFRICA", funded by the British Academy, under the program The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges. Partners: University of Edinburgh, University of Washington, University of Accra (2019-2023)
- ERC Advanced Grant "AFRICAN GOVERNANCE AND SPACE: TRANSPORT CORRIDORS, BORDER TOWNS, AND PORT CITIES IN TRANSITION" (AFRIGOS). Lead partner: University of Edinburgh (2016-2022)
- 2016-2017: Project funded under Law 19/RAS (Development Cooperation) titled "Lessons from Gramsci: State, Democratic Participation, and Civil Society on Both Shores of the Mediterranean", in partnership with Roma Tre University and the University of Jendouba (Tunisia).
- 2019-2020: Participation in the project "Students in Action: Education and Social Transformation in Palestine", funded under Law 19/96 RAS, in collaboration with the Sardinia-Palestine Friendship Association
- Project "BORDER FESTIVALS, PARTITIONED COMMUNITIES AND PRACTICAL GOVERNANCE IN WEST AFRICA", funded by the British Academy, under the program The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges, led by Prof. Paul Nugent.
- TOUR-MED-EAU: Sustainable water management in Mediterranean tourist territories, under the ENPI-CIUDAD community initiative.
- 2010: "SOUTH-EAST ARCHERITAGE: Roman Empire Common Heritage in Southern and Eastern ENPI Countries", under the ENPI-CIUDAD community initiative
- 2012: "GOBENIN: Implementation of National Water Policies in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi", funded under EuropeAid/129510/C/ACT/Multi – Partnerships for Capacity Development in the Water and Sanitation Sector in ACP Countries
- European ENPI project: "Fostering Solar Technology in the Mediterranean Area", with partners from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia, focusing on international politics in the Mediterranean (security, cooperation, migrations).
Research Networks Related to the Mediterranean and the Global South
- ABORNE – African Borderlands Research Network
- AEGIS – Africa-Europe Group for Interdisciplinary Studies
- Research group "Migration in Context: The ‘Hierarchy Gap’ between Italy and the European Union", coordinated by Prof. Colette Mazzucelli (New York University).