Fabrizio Sciacca

FABRIZIO SCIACCA

Professor (‘professore ordinario’) of Political Philosophy
University of Catania
Affiliate Member

Centre for Law, Democracy and Society
School of Law, Queen Mary University of London

Email: fsciacca@unict.it

ORCID: 0000-0001-5003-3941

PROFILE
I am a Professor with a legal education and a PhD in Legal Philosophy. My research lies at the intersection of jurisprudence, constitutional theory, legal interpretation, fundamental rights, and the theory of institutional legitimacy.
Graduated in Law with highest honours and awarded a PhD in Legal Philosophy by the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa, I have developed an international academic profile through research stays and appointments at leading European universities and research institutions. My work focuses in particular on the normativity of law, rights, constitutionalism, and the relationship between justice, power, and public authority.
I am the author of approximately one hundred scholarly publications, including monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, edited volumes, and critical editions. My publications address the theoretical foundations of legal and political order, the culture of rights, democratic legitimacy, and the constitutional dimension of institutions.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Legal and Political Philosophy
• General Theory of Law
• Theory of Legal Interpretation
• Constitutionalism and Constitutional Theory
• Legality and the Rule of Law
• Fundamental Rights and Human Rights
• Justice, Authority, and Institutions
• Democratic Legitimacy
•. Power
• 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 (‘professore ordinario’) 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
2025–present
Departmental Research Lead, University of Catania

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

PUBLICATIONS
Author of approximately one hundred scholarly publications, including monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, edited volumes, and critical editions. His research focuses in particular on legal philosophy, constitutional theory, fundamental rights, democratic legitimacy, justice, legality, and the normative foundations of institutions.
Full list of publications available upon request.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member of SIFP, IVR, GAP, SIFA, ESAP, and Kant-Gesellschaft.
LANGUAGES
Italian: native
English: fluent
German: fluent
French: professional working proficiency
Nordic languages: working proficiency