Tutor: Prof.ssa Alice Cherchi Co-tutor: Prof. Cristiano Cicero

Short bio:

She obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the Faculty of Economic, Legal and Political Sciences at the University of Cagliari and is qualified to practice law, having passed the bar qualification exam at the Cagliari Court of Appeal. She serves as a subject expert and teaching assistant for the courses Institutions of Roman Law, Roman Law, Roman Commercial Law, and Foundations of European Law. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Legal Sciences at the University of Cagliari. Her research project, titled “Collective Property and New Perspectives for Local Development,” focuses in particular on the regulation of civic uses and collective domains, adopting a historical-legal approach.

Thesis abstract:

The research project focuses on collective property and new perspectives for local development, with particular attention to the legal framework governing usi civici (civic uses) and collective domains. The investigation adopts a historical-legal approach aimed at exploring the features of these forms of property and the legal solutions that allow for the collective use of resources, while promoting environmental protection and social inclusion.
The first line of inquiry involves the analysis of Roman law sources related to the various types of ager publicus, with a specific focus on the ager compascuus—a particularly distinctive and enigmatic category. The study of land and territory, along with the legal mechanisms designed to ensure their use while respecting diverse and often competing interests, highlights the compascuus as a significant, albeit interpretatively complex, model.
A second area of research examines the evolution of legislation on usi civici, developed at national, regional, and municipal levels. The analysis of this multifaceted legal framework not only
underlines the relevance and specificity of the subject, but also provides practical support to judicial activity, particularly in the role played by the Regional Commissioner for the Liquidation of Civic Uses.
The research has been enriched by participation in conferences and advanced legal training programs, including the international seminar Romani iuris officina (Novacella 2024), where a paper titled Proprietà e interessi collettivi. Interrogativi sull’ager compascuus was presented, the conference Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Normative Strategies for Gender Equality (Cagliari 2024), with a presentation titled Donne di condizione paraservile e unioni miste; the Advanced Training Course in Roman Law at the University of “La Sapienza” in Rome (academic year 2024/2025).
The work carried out so far has made it possible to develop theoretical and methodological awareness of the research topics and to contribute to the development of critical tools for reinterpreting the concept of ownership, in dialogue between legal tradition and contemporary challenges.