The historical area includes researchers belonging to CUN areas 11 and 14. This area traditionally comprises two divisions: Contemporary History and the History of International Relations. Regarding Contemporary History, this sector has experienced a significant numerical reduction in its members over the years, due to various reasons, and has only been minimally compensated. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to strengthen it in the next three years, especially concerning the educational offer in English.
Following the closure of the PhD program in Theory and History of Modernization, which existed since 1999 and achieved excellent results at national and international levels, the Department participates in the PhD program in Historical Studies with administrative headquarters in Florence. In this sector, the theme of sustainable mobility, studied from a historical perspective, has progressively gained great centrality. This theme has a significant projection on contemporary issues, not only globally but also concerning the search for adequate and coherent solutions at the regional and local levels. Given the possibility of involving local authorities and the interest of various economic operators, this is a line of research that the Department intends to develop. A research laboratory has recently been created for this purpose (LEMOS). Thanks also to the affiliation of a new Full Professor and in line with the objectives of interaction between the various disciplines, the Department intends to develop the research area of gender history, approached from a national and international perspective, looking at both social and cultural aspects, as well as the specifically political and institutional ones. Other research areas concern the history of journalism and communication, the history of political and administrative institutions, and thus of parties, ruling classes, and the "welfare state," with an approach that is also national, European, and non-European in scope.
Over the past three years, there has been a research effort focused on the history of culture and education, the university, and representatives of the Sienese cultural elites, which has led to an international profile of the city's intellectual circles and its university. These projects are ongoing, involving collaborations with other universities, cultural centres, and foundations, with plans to continue and expand. Lastly, there is a desire to increase engagement in the history of sport, aligning with the University's Third Mission objectives.
The division of the History of International Relations, closely linked with scientific sectors focused on the history and institutions of non-European countries, has been traditionally significant since the time of the degree program in Political Science and has been strengthened by the arrival of a Full Professor (2017) and a Junior Assistant Professor (fixed-term) (2021), after the recent retirement of a Senior Assistant Professor. Against the backdrop of a gradual strengthening of staff in the coming years, also in relation to the breadth of the educational offer planned in logical continuity and synergy with research activities, the four members of this sector will be engaged in the field of the history of the international system and diplomacy, Atlantic relations and European construction, global economic relations, and the connections between international politics and technological development. Further impetus will also be given to ongoing research on the institutional and international history of non-European areas, with particular reference to the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Central and East Asia (especially China), and the Americas (US foreign policy, history and institutions of Latin American countries, and inter-American relations).
The sector participates in the PhD program in Historical Studies in agreement with the University of Florence, into which the PhD program in History of International Relations (based in Florence, active since 1985), previously coordinated by one of DISPI's professors who formerly held a Jean Monnet Chair and a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, merged in 2013/14. Other professors in the sector have contributed to the recent foundation at the University of the inter-university Center for Comparative Area Studies ASAFAL (Asia Africa America Latina), which has already established very active relationships with universities and research centers in Mexico and elsewhere.