Alfio Cerami

My current research interests concentrate on five main areas:

1. Economic, Political and Social Transformations in Sub-Saharan Africa;
2. Economic, Political and Social Transformations in the Middle and North Africa (MENA);
3. Democratization and Consolidation of Democratic Institutions;
4. European Union Politics and Sociology of European Integration; and
5. Human and Socio-Economic Security.

1. Economic, Political and Social Transformations in Sub-Saharan Africa

Economic, political and social transformations in Sub-Saharan Africa is the first strand of my research activities. The countries under investigation include: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Here, I am interested in the interaction between development economics, social protection policies and democratization. I have recently completed to write a single-author volume for Palgrave Macmillan entitled: 'Permanent Emergency Welfare Regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Exclusive Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy'. It is scheduled to be published in March 2013. Pre-order available here.

2. Economic, Political and Social Transformations in the Middle and North Africa (MENA)

Economic, political and social transformations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the second strand of my research activities. The countries under scrutiny involve: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. Here, my primary attention is given to the reforms of the systems of social protection and the repercussions for the process of modernization, democratization and consolidation of democratic institutions.

3. Democratization and Consolidation of Democratic Institutions
Recognizing the profound significance of social and economic policies for the transition towards democracy, a significant part of my research activities is also devoted to democratization and consolidation of democratic institutions. Here, my primary attention is given to transition and developing countries.

4. European Union Politics and Sociology of European Integration
My research activities also focus on European Union politics and sociology of European Integration. Here, I apply and expand my early work on mechanisms of institutional change to the establishment of the European Union.

5. Human and Socio-Economic Security
Human and socio-economic security represents the final strand of my research activities. In this area, my investigations aim at analyzing various challenges to the human security of the most vulnerable groups in transition and developing countries.