Fabrizio Sciacca

FABRIZIO SCIACCA

Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Catania and Departmental Research Lead in the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

Affiliate Member of the Centre for Law, Democracy and Society at Queen Mary University of London.



PROFILE
Trained in law and legal philosophy, with a Degree in Law with highest honours from the University of Catania and a PhD in Legal Philosophy with highest honours from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa.
Research lies at the intersection of jurisprudence, legal and political philosophy, constitutional theory, legal interpretation, fundamental rights, and the theory of institutional legitimacy. Particular attention is devoted to the normative foundations of legal and political order, including constitutionalism, the rule of law, justice, authority, democratic legitimacy, and the constitutional framework of public institutions.
Current research also examines the transformation of public authority under conditions of technological change, with particular emphasis on technopower, democracy, and public governance.
Author and editor of around one hundred scholarly publications, including monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, edited volumes, and critical editions.
Academic experience includes visiting appointments and research stays at universities and research institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Legal and Political Philosophy
Jurisprudence and General Theory of Law
Legal Interpretation
Constitutional Theory and Constitutionalism
Rule of Law and Legality
Fundamental and Human Rights
Justice, Authority, and Democratic Legitimacy
Law, Technology, and Public Governance

ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2025–present
Departmental Research Lead
Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Catania
2024–present
Affiliate Member
Centre for Law, Democracy and Society, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London
2004–present
Professor of Political Philosophy
University of Catania

EDUCATION
PhD in Legal Philosophy, with highest honours
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
Degree in Law, with highest honours
University of Catania

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND RESEARCH STAYS
2025
Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of València
2024
Visiting Professor, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London
2000
Visiting Scholar, Institute for Legal Philosophy and Public Law, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
1996–1997
Visiting Scholar, Philosophical Seminar, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
1994–1995
Visiting Scholar, Institute for Legal and Social Philosophy, Saarland University

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
2012–2023
Director, PhD Programme in Political Science, University of Catania

SELECTED RESEARCH PROJECTS AND GRANTS
2025–2028
Research Team Member, Justice in the 21st Century
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges
2024–2026
Principal Investigator, Technopower and the Metamorphosis of Democracy — TECMED
University of Catania
2023–2027
Co-Principal Investigator, Climate Urgency — C-URGE
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network
2018–2024
Research Team Member, Kant in South America
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges
2013–2017
Principal Investigator, Strengthening Higher Education for Social Policy Making and Social Services Delivery — SHESPSS
TEMPUS European Programme
2009–2012
Key Staff Member, Institutionalising Values: Beyond Human Rights?
AHRC Research Network, University of Stirling
2008–2010
Scientific Lead, Paradigms of Constitutionalism in Modern and Contemporary European Thought
PRIN Project
2005–2009
Academic Coordinator, Human Rights and European Identity
Jean Monnet Action, European Commission

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member of SIFP, IVR, GAP, SIFA, ESAP, and the Kant-Gesellschaft.

LANGUAGES
Italian — Native
English — Fluent
German — Fluent
French — Professional working proficiency
Nordic languages — Working proficiency