Topic of the thesis: The Politics of Anti-Energy Poverty Policies in Southern Europe
Abstract: My research project investigates the evolution of anti-energy poverty policies in Southern European welfare states since the Great Recession through the concept of eco-social policy. While energy poverty is a well-established theme in socio-economic studies, political science has largely overlooked it. This project addresses this gap by analyzing the politics, the policy, and by giving theoretical insights on the factors shaping anti-energy poverty policymaking, considering in particular Italy and Spain, meant as two "most similar" cases within the Southern European welfare model. Despite similar socio-economic trajectories and institutional legacies, the literature indicates how Spain has developed an integrated eco-social strategy, while Italy has maintained a more fragmented approach. The project adopts a comparative case study design and uses process tracing to identify causal mechanisms. It maps national policy instruments along an "eco-social gradient", it explores the constellation of involved actors (including labor and environmental coalitions) and their interactions, and it examines how institutional arrangements and political dynamics influence policy adoption. The project builds on both actor-centered institutionalist approaches to overcome limitations emerging from functionalist explanations and Historical Institutionalism. From a methodological point of view, it relies on qualitative tools, notably scientific literature review and analysis of policy documents, complemented by interviews with key informants. The study engages with recent literature on sustainable welfare, eco-social policies, and, more in general, with the debate on the "new politics of the welfare state" and the "third generation" of social risks.
Research interests: Eco-social policies and politics; Labour environmentalism; Just transition
Graduated from: University of Milan
Degrees obtained: BA Political Science; MA Global Politics and Society.
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