Topic of thesis: The Politicisation of Social Europe. Conflict dynamics in the post-crisis debate over EU social and employment policies

Abstract: While the politicization of the European Union should not be understood as a by-product of the Great Recession, the track-record of EU crisis management festered a looming sense of social betrayal by the EU, with a great number of academic observers referring to the glaring 'social deficit' in terms of 'debasing', 'declining' and 'dismantling' Social Europe. Ten years after the Great Recession and in the midst of a pandemic crisis, the EU has tried to regain social credibility, especially after the adoption of European Pillar of Social Rights. This thesis aims to trace the evolution of the conflict dynamics underpinning the political debate over the EU social dimension and understand the factors that either hindered or facilitated the deepening of the EU social integration over the past decade. What emerges is a complex overlapping of multiple divides of a functional, normative and territorial nature, which differently combine according to the arena (Parliament and Council) where the debate takes place, the actors involved, the rules of the game and the specific issue under discussion.

Research interests: European Pillar of Social Rights, Governance of the EU, European Social Policies, European Parliament, European Monetary Union, EU Decision-Making, EU Politics

Graduated from: University of Milan

Degrees obtained: BA Philosophy MA Political Philosophy (One year Master in Democracy and Governance of the EU - Universitat Tubingen)

E-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.