"Immigrant Integration beyond National Policies? Italian Cities Participation in Transnational Cities Networks" Abstract In the literature on the local dimension of migration policy-making, one can see an emerging interest towards transnational cities networks (TCNs). Networks such as Eurocities can represent policy venues that go beyond the limits of vertical relations between national governments and local…

"Fathering in Construction: What favours a positive paternal involvement in the Spanish context?" abstract Positive paternal involvement (Pleck and Masciadrelli 2004) has become an important concept in research on new ways of fathering and its consequences for child development.  This presentation draws on data of the Spanish case of the international TransParent research project and…

"Populism and institutionalisation in ethno-nationalist parties"

"Three ways to Austerity" Abstract In 2010-2014, 26 of 31 democratic countries pursued austerity: they consolidated a lean state (Switzerland) or planned to cut back deficits (25 nations, among them Germany, Portugal and Italy). Why do democratic governments embark on austerity policies? A statistical analysis shows that the extent of deficits change is mainly a…

"South European Countries’ Systems of Innovation in Hard Times" at Campus Einaudi (CLE), Dept of Cultures, politics and society, 3rd floor, room D233

"The strength of weak political ties: Discussion networks and the diffusion of Movimento 5 Stelle in 2013 Italian Elections" Abstract The article aims to analyze the development of vote intentions for a new populist party, Movimento 5 Stelle (the 5 Star Movement), during the campaign for the 2013 Italian general election. The party, headed by…

"Strengthening limits to mobility? The Economic crisis and EU citizens' mobility"   Abstract This paper is an attempt to study intra-EU mobility in a context of economic crisis, taking into consideration two opposite forces, i.e.: one which strongly favours it from the European level (and the economic crisis); and another one which tends to be…

"Family Policy Shifts and the Creation of a Market for Domestic and Care Work in Germany" abstract The introduction of tax credits for purchases of personal, household, and most recently elderly care services is aimed both at supporting dual-earner households and creating jobs in household services. In this talk, recent shifts in German family policy…

"Vote-buying and coercion in elections: experimental evidence from Eastern Europe"

"Institutions and upgrading strategies in the global economy: a comparative analysis of Spain and Korea" abstract This talk presents the preliminary argument of a book that examines the roles of states and large firms in fostering economic upgrading in the context of late industrialising, advanced, but not world-leading economies. The empirical analysis is based on…

"Formal Modeling for Substantive Social Research: The Place of Narratives  in Linking Theory to Models" abstract This talk grows out of Mershon's book manuscript, _Formal Modeling for Substantive Research_, co-authored with Olga Shvetsova. The talk and the book focus on the methodology of using formal models as a systematic component in research design in political…

"Falling back into Gender? Men's Narratives and Practices around First-time Fatherhood"

"Explaining variation of EU effectiveness in international development negotiations" abstract This article analyses the role played by the European Union in the changing development architecture, focusing on the negotiation and conclusion of four high-level forums on aid effectiveness, held in Rome (2003), Paris (2005), Accra (2008) and Busan (2011). Drawing on published and unpublished material and…

"The Greek euro-crisis: between government failure and failed government" abstract The presentation seeks to provide an analytical account of the Greek crisis that goes beyond simple and partial explanations of the crisis, which typically focus selectively either on domestic problems and weaknesses (fiscal laxity, corruption, weak administrative capacities, reform resistance) or on external and systemic…

"Feedback in international migration: Brazilian and Ukrainian migration to Portugal" abstract After the remarkable migration inflows that occurred during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Brazilians and Ukrainians became the two largest foreign nationalities present in Portugal. Since then, there has been a stabilisation and a recent decline of the flow. While the economic crisis…

"Strategies for Diversifying Academe: Redressing Bias against Women and Minority Scholars in the Social Science Professions"

"European Cities and their Migrant Integration Policies"

"The end of the experiment? From competition to the foundational economy"