Title: Taking Action to Transform Democracy
Subtitle: Socio-Political Mobilizations in Italy in the Face of Ecological Crisis
Subject Classification:  Sociology, Sustainability, Politics and Government  
BIC Classification: JH, RN, JP
BISAC Classification:
Binding: Hardback, eBook
Planned publication date: Mar 2027
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-83711-847-2
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-83711-848-9

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Description

This book aims to analyze the emergence and impact of civic and political participation in response to catastrophic events, including natural disasters and the consequences of climate change. Drawing on research funded by the European project CO-SUSTAIN (2024–2026), the study investigates the Italian neoliberal democratic system in the contexts of ecological crises and the energy transition, with particular attention to participatory processes and the role of local communities in generating socio-political innovations within socio-technical systems.

The volume focuses on three Italian case studies, spanning the North and South of the country: the floods in Genoa (2011–2014), the L’Aquila earthquake (2009), and the energy and solidarity community of San Giovanni a Teduccio, Eastern Naples (2021). The findings indicate a shift from conventional forms of engagement toward more transformative modes of participation, often grounded in the active involvement of civil society in local policymaking.

The analysis of these forms of civic engagement and involvement is crucial for strengthening the accountability and transparency of democratic governance. It also helps identify innovative practices capable of catalyzing structural transformations within socio-technical systems, extending beyond the immediate management of emergencies. The so-called “innovation niches” can serve as laboratories of civic engagement, promoting collaboration between local communities and institutions, and supporting the development and implementation of policies aimed at risk prevention and a sustainable transition.

Taking Action to Transform Democracy is the second volume in the Ethics Press Critical Horizons in the Social Sciences series.

Biography

Author(s):  Lorenza Giorgetti, Davide Grasso, and Alessandro Sciullo are researchers at the University of Turin, Italy.

Reviews

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