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POPULISM EUROPE
POPULISM in CENTRAL and EASTERN EUROPE

Francesco Melito

ESR 2: The role of culture and tradition in the shift towards illiberal democracy (Jagiellonian University)

Francesco Melito studied Political Science and International Relations at Roma Tre University and European and International Studies at the University of Trento. During his studies, he took part in several exchange programmes in the Czech Republic and Poland, which aroused his interest in Central and East European politics. His Master’s thesis examined European integration in the post-communist region and the phenomenon of populism, which has become his main field of interest. He has taken two gap years and has had the opportunity to travel and work in many countries around the world. 

As part of the FATIGUE programme, Francesco will conduct an analysis of the illiberal turn in Poland as expressed through the articulation of a neo-traditionalist hegemonic project. He is supervised by Zdzisław Mach and Natasza Styczyńska at Jagiellonian University and Jiří Vykoukal and Maria Asavei at Charles University in Prague.

Work in Progress:

Academic publications

  • Melito F. (2021). Finding the roots of neo-traditionalist populism in Poland: ‘Cultural displacement’ and European integration. New Perspectives, 29(1): 23-44.
  • Melito F. (2021). Populism vs. Demagogism: What if Anti-populists are the Real Demagogues? Politologický časopis – Czech Journal of Political Science, 3: 229-244.
  • Melito F. (2021). Defending the traditional Polish way of life: The role of fantasies. Sprawy Narodowościowe. Seria nowa, 53, Article 2546.

Conference presentations (selection):

  • 3rd Populism Specialist Group’s Annual Workshop, Loughborough University – Loughborough, United Kingdom. April 12-13, 2019.
  • 26th International Conference of Europeanists, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid – Madrid, Spain. June 20-22, 2019.
  • UACES 49th Annual Conference, University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Law– Lisbon, Portugal. September 1-4, 2019. 
  • Convegno SISP 2019, Università degli Studi del Salento – Lecce, Italy. September 12 – 14, 2019. 
  • PSA Annual International Conference 2021, Queen’s University Belfast (virtual) – March 29-31, 2021.
  • Second HEPP Conference, University of Helsinki (virtual) – May 4-8, 2021.
  • 5th Populism Specialist Group’s Annual Workshop, Virtual Event – June 9-11, 2021.
  • ECPR General Conference, Virtual Event – August 30-September 3, 2021.
  • 25th CEPSA Annual Conference, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn – Olsztyn, Poland. November 17-19, 2021.