National Seminar for PhD Students in Political Science

Orizzonti democratici. Crisi della rappresentanza e nuove forme di partecipazione

September 2025

Edited by Jacopo Bernardini, Cecilia Castellani, Tommaso Cerutti, Damiano Kerma

Volume II of the editorial series “Doctorate in Political Science of the University of Pisa” published by Carocci

This volume presents the reflections that emerged from the Fifth Edition of the National Seminar for PhD Students in Political Science at the University of Pisa, entitled Metamorphosis: Democracies and Participatory Scenarios. Starting from an analysis of some recurring dynamics that characterise contemporary democracies, such as the growing distrust towards institutions, the worsening climate and environmental crisis, and the advance of authoritarian tendencies, the text explores the theme of participation as a key to understanding the transformations of democratic systems. The discussion is carried out through a variety of approaches – the historical, legal, political and sociological ones – and divided into four thematic areas: the active citizenship and the forms of grassroots participation; the hybrid regimes and the crisis of representation; the sustainability; the identity and the political languages. Within a context marked by polarisation and disinformation, but also by new forms of civic engagement and inclusion in decision-making processes, the collected contributions aim to overcome simplistic interpretations by restoring the complexity of the past and present democratic transformations.

Riflettere sull’alterità. Prospettive di ricerca tra sociologia, storia e scienze politiche

January 2025

Edited by Brenda Fedi, Aurora Maria Lai

Volume II of the editorial series “Doctorate in Political Science of the University of Pisa” published by Carocci

This volume presents the reflections emerging from the Fourth Edition of the National Seminar for PhD Students in Political Science at the University of Pisa, entitled “ALTER – Reflections between the Centres and the Edges“. The contributions question the complex concept of “otherness,” not within the logic of polarizing differentiation, but rather by interpreting it through a relational connotation. From this perspective, the authors address the power relations between the “centers” and the “edges” of the social phenomena, the cultural or political processes, and the physical or symbolic places, rejecting simplistic narratives that describe otherness as marginalisation. “Centers” were intended to highlight the pervasiveness of power and the norms that legitimize it; while “edges” were considered in both their spatial and sociocultural connotations. The invitation, welcomed and articulated by the authors, is therefore to deconstruct the usual polarization of the debate regarding marginality.

Sguardi sul cambiamento

2023

Edited by Damiano Lembo, Martina Semboloni, Andrea Cellai, Mirko Crulli

Preface: Elena Dundovich

Publishing House: Mimesis

This volume brings together the contributions presented during the Third Edition of the National Seminar for Doctoral Students in Political Science entitled POST – Perspectives on Change, held at the University of Pisa in 2023. The need to reflect on this topic comes from the unique historical circumstances in which the volume was conceived. The year 2022 marked the full entry of European society and politics (and beyond) into the post-Covid 19 era, but it was also preceded by a fifteen-year period of “polycrisis” and accompanied by the return of the war in Europe. The aim is therefore to analyse change – its causes, directions and implications – using the different perspectives of political science. In other words, to reflect on change, in change, through an interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary collaboration, and different contributions from the fields of political science, sociology, history and philosophy.

Itinerari del sapere. Teorie e pratiche della conoscenza in età contemporanea

December 2022

Edited by Alessandro Dividus, Chiara Malvestio, Pier Giuseppe Puggioni, Andrea Raciti

Publishing House: Carocci

This volume brings together the discussions developed during the Second Edition of the National Seminar for Doctoral Students in Political Science, entitled Knowledge and its Dissemination in the Contemporary Age. The investigation of the problem of knowledge arises from the awareness of the multiple perspectives from which to observe the construction of knowledge, its dissemination and its relationship with social reality in the contemporary world. The five parts of the text reflect on these themes from different perspectives (philosophical, legal, political, sociological and historiographical). The core questions addressed by the essays of the book particularly concern the transformations that the speed, the forms and the models of knowledge experience over time. The diverse and heterogeneous research projects are therefore united by the intention to grasp the connection between these transformations and a series of historical and political dynamics that can be identified in our societies.

CONFINI, IDENTITÀ E CITTADINANZA. Uno sguardo multidisciplinare

2021

Edited by Matteo De Toffoli, Calogero Laneri

Publishing House: ETS

This volume brings together the reflections as emerged from the National Seminar for Doctoral Students in Political Science entitled Borders, Identity and Citizenship. The desire to examine these three categories stems from the awareness that, despite their changing forms and interpretations, they still play a central role that is far from negligible. The coexistence of different practices and knowledge, which is the characteristic feature of political science, is reflected by the seven sections of the volume: where historical, political, sociological, legal, philosophical and geopolitical contributions address some issues cutting across the three concepts that are the basis of the work.