Analisi comparativa degli strumenti deflativi del contenzioso: quali prospettive per l'Italia?

Il presente lavoro analizza gli esistenti strumenti di deflazione del contenzioso fiscale, al fine di individuare più efficaci soluzioni per la prevenzione di tali controversie. Il tema trattato dalla ricerca risponde alla crescente necessità di migliorare l’attuale legislazione di diritto interno, consentendo al contribuente di evitare i costi ei tempi richiesti dall’istaurazione di un giudizio. In particolare, viene esaminata la disciplina della mediazione fiscale adottata nei principali Paesi del mondo, quali gli Stati Uniti d’America, il Canada, l’Australia, nonché di quelli appartenenti al diritto dell’Unione, con particolare approfondimento del sistema olandese. L’analisi comparativa evidenzia le varie soluzioni adottate da tali Stati per la soluzione amministrativa delle controversie tra autorità fiscali e contribuenti, sottolineando i relativi aspetti critici e di successo e stimolando una discussione su una possibile evoluzione degli strumenti deflativi presenti in Italia.Il presente lavoro analizza gli esistenti strumenti di deflazione del contenzioso fiscale, al fine di individuare più efficaci soluzioni per la prevenzione di tali controversie. Il tema trattato dalla ricerca risponde alla crescente necessità di migliorare l’attuale legislazione di diritto interno, consentendo al contribuente di evitare i costi ei tempi richiesti dall’istaurazione di un giudizio. In particolare, viene esaminata la disciplina della mediazione fiscale adottata nei principali Paesi del mondo, quali gli Stati Uniti d’America, il Canada, l’Australia, nonché di quelli appartenenti al diritto dell’Unione, con particolare approfondimento del sistema olandese. L’analisi comparativa evidenzia le varie soluzioni adottate da tali Stati per la soluzione amministrativa delle controversie tra autorità fiscali e contribuenti, sottolineando i relativi aspetti critici e di successo e stimolando una discussione su una possibile evoluzione degli strumenti deflativi presenti in Italia.LUISS PhD Thesi

Re-building institutions through diaspora engagement: the impact of skilled migration on domestic change

As a massive process of change, migration has an impact on several aspects of economies and societies, affecting both the countries of origin and settlement. The so-called “migration and development nexus” highlights those positive contributions under an economic and monetary perspective, looking at the effects of remittances on livelihood of individuals and communities. It is clear that diaspora and migrants do not remit just money, but a complex system of ideas, values and knowledge, which also impacts on societies. Given this premise, the research aim is to find out to what extent skilled diaspora may act an actor of institutional change, looking at specific initiatives of development where diaspora is engaged within single institutions in the countries of origin. The empirical analysis aims at an impact assessment which follows the Lipset’s concepts of Legitimacy and Effectiveness. The qualitative study object of the dissertation has allowed to have a picture of the conditions according to which diaspora’s impact on institutions is positive, also giving an insight of the “diaspora agenda” on development.As a massive process of change, migration has an impact on several aspects of economies and societies, affecting both the countries of origin and settlement. The so-called “migration and development nexus” highlights those positive contributions under an economic and monetary perspective, looking at the effects of remittances on livelihood of individuals and communities. It is clear that diaspora and migrants do not remit just money, but a complex system of ideas, values and knowledge, which also impacts on societies. Given this premise, the research aim is to find out to what extent skilled diaspora may act an actor of institutional change, looking at specific initiatives of development where diaspora is engaged within single institutions in the countries of origin. The empirical analysis aims at an impact assessment which follows the Lipset’s concepts of Legitimacy and Effectiveness. The qualitative study object of the dissertation has allowed to have a picture of the conditions according to which diaspora’s impact on institutions is positive, also giving an insight of the “diaspora agenda” on development.LUISS PhD Thesi

Are you culturally intelligent? Export performance and alliance portfolio performance of SMEs: a managerial perspective

Why are some companies more successful in internationalization than others? Research in international business has tended to focus on macro-level factors, such as the “cultural distance” between home and host country. Micro-level factors, operating at the firm, or, individual-level, may well lead to differences in internationalization success. In this dissertation, I focus on one such factor: the “cultural intelligence” of the export manager. Individual managers play indeed a key role in major strategic decisions, especially within SMEs. I set out to explore a unique dataset of Italian SMEs to analyze how cultural intelligence, cultural distance, and export channels interactively influence export performance. I also investigate the role of the cultural intelligence of the managers in dealing with the cultural diversity of the firm’s export partners. Specifically, I analyze how cultural intelligence may help export managers manage cross-cultural relationships with the firm’s export partners, and turn cultural differences in superior alliance performance. My findings illustrates that cultural intelligence contributes to export performance and that this effect increases with cultural distance. This study’s results also suggest that the cultural intelligence of managers is needed mostly when the firm exports directly abroad and in culturally distant countries, rather than through foreign intermediaries. However, if the firm exports with the help of export partners, the higher the cultural distance between the home country and export countries and among the firm’s export partners, the more the firm needs managers with a high level of cultural intelligence to be successful. Finally, my findings highlight that measures of cultural intelligence that are specific to the situation (i.e. task-specific CQ and metacognitive CQ) matter more than general capabilities (i.e. general CQ) in explaining improvements in export performance and alliance portfolio performance. Together, the results of this research stress the importance of looking at individual-level variables, such as cultural intelligence, to explain the export activity of the firm and its outcome. Thus, they generally suggest that research in international business and alliance portfolio may benefit from bringing the individual manager back in.Why are some companies more successful in internationalization than others? Research in international business has tended to focus on macro-level factors, such as the “cultural distance” between home and host country. Micro-level factors, operating at the firm, or, individual-level, may well lead to differences in internationalization success. In this dissertation, I focus on one such factor: the “cultural intelligence” of the export manager. Individual managers play indeed a key role in major strategic decisions, especially within SMEs. I set out to explore a unique dataset of Italian SMEs to analyze how cultural intelligence, cultural distance, and export channels interactively influence export performance. I also investigate the role of the cultural intelligence of the managers in dealing with the cultural diversity of the firm’s export partners. Specifically, I analyze how cultural intelligence may help export managers manage cross-cultural relationships with the firm’s export partners, and turn cultural differences in superior alliance performance. My findings illustrates that cultural intelligence contributes to export performance and that this effect increases with cultural distance. This study’s results also suggest that the cultural intelligence of managers is needed mostly when the firm exports directly abroad and in culturally distant countries, rather than through foreign intermediaries. However, if the firm exports with the help of export partners, the higher the cultural distance between the home country and export countries and among the firm’s export partners, the more the firm needs managers with a high level of cultural intelligence to be successful. Finally, my findings highlight that measures of cultural intelligence that are specific to the situation (i.e. task-specific CQ and metacognitive CQ) matter more than general capabilities (i.e. general CQ) in explaining improvements in export performance and alliance portfolio performance. Together, the results of this research stress the importance of looking at individual-level variables, such as cultural intelligence, to explain the export activity of the firm and its outcome. Thus, they generally suggest that research in international business and alliance portfolio may benefit from bringing the individual manager back in.LUISS PhD Thesi

Créer la solidarité transnationale à travers le visuel à l’ère des médias sociaux: une enquête sur la seconde révolution égyptienne

La tesi si prefigge l’obiettivo di dimostrare, attraverso un’analisi della Rivoluzione egiziana del 2013, come l’affermazione nei social media di immaginari cosmopoliti globalmente diffusi fornisca alle istanze sociali e politiche in grado di padroneggiarli uno strumento inedito ed efficace per suscitare una presa di coscienza transnazionale, favorendo una reazione solidale nei confronti di rivendicazioni a scala prettamente nazionale.La tesi si prefigge l’obiettivo di dimostrare, attraverso un’analisi della Rivoluzione egiziana del 2013, come l’affermazione nei social media di immaginari cosmopoliti globalmente diffusi fornisca alle istanze sociali e politiche in grado di padroneggiarli uno strumento inedito ed efficace per suscitare una presa di coscienza transnazionale, favorendo una reazione solidale nei confronti di rivendicazioni a scala prettamente nazionale.LUISS PhD Thesi

Le sopravvenienze: dall’equilibrio contrattuale alla nullità sopravvenuta

La nozione civilistica e la nozione contabile di sopravvenienza a confronto. Introduzione e genesi del principio di equilibrio contrattuale. Equilibrio giuridico ed equilibrio economico come criteri di qualificazione della causa in concreto del contratto: la rilevanza delle sopravvenienze sull’equilibrio contrattuale. La nullità sopravvenuta del contratto in relazione al principio di equilibrio contrattuale.La nozione civilistica e la nozione contabile di sopravvenienza a confronto. Introduzione e genesi del principio di equilibrio contrattuale. Equilibrio giuridico ed equilibrio economico come criteri di qualificazione della causa in concreto del contratto: la rilevanza delle sopravvenienze sull’equilibrio contrattuale. La nullità sopravvenuta del contratto in relazione al principio di equilibrio contrattuale.LUISS PhD Thesi

Catholic public reason: John Rawls and catholic social teaching: from Vatican II to Pope Francis

The aim of this dissertation is to demonstrate the ways in which the Roman Catholic vision concerning ‘public reason’ presents some pertinent perspectives in contemporary political theory and debate. As part of this overarching objective, the dissertation presents an in-depth theoretical discussion and analysis of Rawls’ political theory on Public Reason, particularly in the context of contemporary political problems within Western societies regarding the issue of religion in the public sphere. In this broad context, the relationship between religion and politics will serve as a central focus of this dissertation, particularly in terms of civil society and the public sphere. The dissertation then establishes linkages between these theoretical concepts and Catholic Social Teaching, underpinned by the aim of proposing a substantial interpretation of Catholicism as a ‘reasonable comprehensive doctrine’. The purpose is to offer a delineation of the essential elements of Catholic Social Teaching that are relevant for the issue of the public participation of the church in the public-political square. This is done with the view to address questions of how the Church can theoretically and practically participate in this sphere, offering publicly-acceptable ‘justifying reasons’: namely a ‘Catholic Public Reason’. The dissertation will explicitly confirm the possibility of religious support for Rawlsian liberalism and demonstrate that Catholicism is not necessarily incompatible with it. Nevertheless, the dissertation will conclude by arguing that Catholicism generally is not compatible with liberalism from an ideological perspective, evidenced by ideological tensions. Thus, although it is suggested that some dialectical tensions remain, political liberalism, at least in its Rawlsian form, is neither hostile or unfriendly to the presence of religion in the public sphere, as many have traditionally assumed, and Rawls’ public reason – whose aim is not to exclude religion – is actually more welcoming than it is considered by its critics.The aim of this dissertation is to demonstrate the ways in which the Roman Catholic vision concerning ‘public reason’ presents some pertinent perspectives in contemporary political theory and debate. As part of this overarching objective, the dissertation presents an in-depth theoretical discussion and analysis of Rawls’ political theory on Public Reason, particularly in the context of contemporary political problems within Western societies regarding the issue of religion in the public sphere. In this broad context, the relationship between religion and politics will serve as a central focus of this dissertation, particularly in terms of civil society and the public sphere. The dissertation then establishes linkages between these theoretical concepts and Catholic Social Teaching, underpinned by the aim of proposing a substantial interpretation of Catholicism as a ‘reasonable comprehensive doctrine’. The purpose is to offer a delineation of the essential elements of Catholic Social Teaching that are relevant for the issue of the public participation of the church in the public-political square. This is done with the view to address questions of how the Church can theoretically and practically participate in this sphere, offering publicly-acceptable ‘justifying reasons’: namely a ‘Catholic Public Reason’. The dissertation will explicitly confirm the possibility of religious support for Rawlsian liberalism and demonstrate that Catholicism is not necessarily incompatible with it. Nevertheless, the dissertation will conclude by arguing that Catholicism generally is not compatible with liberalism from an ideological perspective, evidenced by ideological tensions. Thus, although it is suggested that some dialectical tensions remain, political liberalism, at least in its Rawlsian form, is neither hostile or unfriendly to the presence of religion in the public sphere, as many have traditionally assumed, and Rawls’ public reason – whose aim is not to exclude religion – is actually more welcoming than it is considered by its critics.LUISS PhD Thesi

Essays on fiscal coordination in the EMU

The recent crisis has shed light on the weaknesses and the drawbacks of the European Monetary Union. In particular, many economists and commentators have suggested the need to complement the existing common monetary policy and stability pacts with some kind of fiscal union, i.e., enhanced supranational fiscal space and coordination, as a way to limit the impacts of idiosyncratic shocks and provide more risk sharing. The economic literature has proposed many solutions along this line, such as the institution of a European Minister of Finance, a central fiscal authority, Eurobonds, or a coordinated scheme of unemployment insurance. More specifically, the notion of fiscal union may imply the development of European revenue sources for the EMU budget, the harmonization of taxation within the EMU, a mechanism to increase fiscal discipline at both the union and national levels, building up a union-wide insurance mechanism against financial turbulence, including debt mutualization. Examples of these proposals are Ubide (2015) and Corsetti et al. (2015) which propose Stability Bonds that would give proceeds to member states and could be used to enact counter-cyclical fiscal policies in the Euro Area. Sapir and Wolff (2015) recommend the creation of a Eurosystem of Fiscal Policy (EFP) with two goals: fiscal debt sustainability and an adequate area-wide fiscal position. Guiso and Morelli (2014) propose the creation of a European Federal Institute to which member states would transfer part of their budget, equal to some agreed-upon share of the value of the EFI’s accumulated debt. Further, Clayes et al. (2014) claim that the EMU should adopt a common system of partially centralized unemployment benefits, coming from the need for counter-cyclical horizontal transfers, which should act as mutual insurance. Moreover, the European Commission (2012) advances the idea of building a centralized Eurozone fund which would provide member states with automatic but temporary fiscal transfers in the case of adverse idiosyncratic shocks (repaid in good times). Many of these proposals are on the table with the goal of reinforcing the overall EU governance. In this work we address two fundamental issues concerning the general Euro Zone architecture and its prospect. One relates to the implementation of a common EMU fiscal policy, its ability to stimulate growth during periods of downturns and to smooth out the effects of adverse shocks, reacting to them at business cycle frequency (aggregate demand management and fiscal multipliers). The other regards shock absorption across state borders and the strengthening of financial markets’ integration (private risk-sharing) and national governments’ intervention into credit markets or supranational institutions arrangements (public risk-sharing). What comes to light is that a unique European fiscal policy may not be as beneficial as it is often claimed, because the fiscal transmission mechanisms are quite different across member states. Indeed, in the first paper of this thesis we show that fiscal multipliers are different across EMU countries (the analysis concerns Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). The study detects instability in the magnitude of the multipliers and in the slopes of the impulse response functions, both across countries and times, using standard VARs and time varying parameter VARs (TVP-VAR). We claim that the differences are due to transmission mechanisms (in the paper they are captured by the beta coefficients of the TVP-VAR) and driving forces rather than the magnitude and the volatility of national fiscal shocks per se (in the paper they are captured by the standard deviations of the TVP-VAR residuals). We argue that the observed degree of heterogeneity in the fiscal multipliers and in the other response coefficients across EMU countries casts some doubt on the real ability of EMU governments to coordinate their fiscal actions when needed and on the effectiveness of a common EMU fiscal policy in stimulating real economic activity. In the second paper of this dissertation, instead, we study the mechanisms, extent and characteristics of risk sharing across the EMU. How well do international financial markets allow for consumption smoothing in member countries facing idiosyncratic shocks? How effective are public national and supranational institutions in improving risk sharing? Our analysis extends the work and methodology pioneered by Asdrubali et al (1996) by updating results up to 2014 and by identifying the role of the European institutions (like the European Financial Stability Facility (ESFS) or the European Stabilization Mechanism (ESM)) created right after the great recession with the objective of assisting countries with limited market access. As a matter of fact, we find that the role played by public official transfers from these institutions to more vulnerable countries in order to smooth consumption during the great depression is noteworthy: the ESFS and the ESM have increased the amount of risk sharing within the EMU. More specifically, we use the method of variance decomposition first implemented by Asdrubali et al (1996) to identify the main channels of risk sharing (net factor income, international transfers and credit markets) and we split the credit market channel into two parts: smoothing achieved through private institutions (markets) and the public sector (national governments and official European institutions). We find that the European institutions have largely compensated the reduced role of national governments during the recent financial crisis. Based on these contributions, we derive some fiscal policy suggestions and conclusions. First, we think that there are reasons to be skeptical about the effectiveness and feasibility of a common fiscal policy for the purpose of stabilizing the business cycle. The reasons are that the fiscal transmission mechanisms are different among countries; countries need their own fiscal counter-cyclical measures in order to absorb idiosyncratic shocks, and, last but not least, European countries are not ready and willing to give up their sovereignty. Secondly, we suggest another type of coordination for EMU fiscal governance that is based on sharing resources at central level, through well-functioning and participated European institutions (along the lines of the ESM), that provide transfers to countries in exceptional circumstances and during period of downturns.The recent crisis has shed light on the weaknesses and the drawbacks of the European Monetary Union. In particular, many economists and commentators have suggested the need to complement the existing common monetary policy and stability pacts with some kind of fiscal union, i.e., enhanced supranational fiscal space and coordination, as a way to limit the impacts of idiosyncratic shocks and provide more risk sharing. The economic literature has proposed many solutions along this line, such as the institution of a European Minister of Finance, a central fiscal authority, Eurobonds, or a coordinated scheme of unemployment insurance. More specifically, the notion of fiscal union may imply the development of European revenue sources for the EMU budget, the harmonization of taxation within the EMU, a mechanism to increase fiscal discipline at both the union and national levels, building up a union-wide insurance mechanism against financial turbulence, including debt mutualization. Examples of these proposals are Ubide (2015) and Corsetti et al. (2015) which propose Stability Bonds that would give proceeds to member states and could be used to enact counter-cyclical fiscal policies in the Euro Area. Sapir and Wolff (2015) recommend the creation of a Eurosystem of Fiscal Policy (EFP) with two goals: fiscal debt sustainability and an adequate area-wide fiscal position. Guiso and Morelli (2014) propose the creation of a European Federal Institute to which member states would transfer part of their budget, equal to some agreed-upon share of the value of the EFI’s accumulated debt. Further, Clayes et al. (2014) claim that the EMU should adopt a common system of partially centralized unemployment benefits, coming from the need for counter-cyclical horizontal transfers, which should act as mutual insurance. Moreover, the European Commission (2012) advances the idea of building a centralized Eurozone fund which would provide member states with automatic but temporary fiscal transfers in the case of adverse idiosyncratic shocks (repaid in good times). Many of these proposals are on the table with the goal of reinforcing the overall EU governance. In this work we address two fundamental issues concerning the general Euro Zone architecture and its prospect. One relates to the implementation of a common EMU fiscal policy, its ability to stimulate growth during periods of downturns and to smooth out the effects of adverse shocks, reacting to them at business cycle frequency (aggregate demand management and fiscal multipliers). The other regards shock absorption across state borders and the strengthening of financial markets’ integration (private risk-sharing) and national governments’ intervention into credit markets or supranational institutions arrangements (public risk-sharing). What comes to light is that a unique European fiscal policy may not be as beneficial as it is often claimed, because the fiscal transmission mechanisms are quite different across member states. Indeed, in the first paper of this thesis we show that fiscal multipliers are different across EMU countries (the analysis concerns Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). The study detects instability in the magnitude of the multipliers and in the slopes of the impulse response functions, both across countries and times, using standard VARs and time varying parameter VARs (TVP-VAR). We claim that the differences are due to transmission mechanisms (in the paper they are captured by the beta coefficients of the TVP-VAR) and driving forces rather than the magnitude and the volatility of national fiscal shocks per se (in the paper they are captured by the standard deviations of the TVP-VAR residuals). We argue that the observed degree of heterogeneity in the fiscal multipliers and in the other response coefficients across EMU countries casts some doubt on the real ability of EMU governments to coordinate their fiscal actions when needed and on the effectiveness of a common EMU fiscal policy in stimulating real economic activity. In the second paper of this dissertation, instead, we study the mechanisms, extent and characteristics of risk sharing across the EMU. How well do international financial markets allow for consumption smoothing in member countries facing idiosyncratic shocks? How effective are public national and supranational institutions in improving risk sharing? Our analysis extends the work and methodology pioneered by Asdrubali et al (1996) by updating results up to 2014 and by identifying the role of the European institutions (like the European Financial Stability Facility (ESFS) or the European Stabilization Mechanism (ESM)) created right after the great recession with the objective of assisting countries with limited market access. As a matter of fact, we find that the role played by public official transfers from these institutions to more vulnerable countries in order to smooth consumption during the great depression is noteworthy: the ESFS and the ESM have increased the amount of risk sharing within the EMU. More specifically, we use the method of variance decomposition first implemented by Asdrubali et al (1996) to identify the main channels of risk sharing (net factor income, international transfers and credit markets) and we split the credit market channel into two parts: smoothing achieved through private institutions (markets) and the public sector (national governments and official European institutions). We find that the European institutions have largely compensated the reduced role of national governments during the recent financial crisis. Based on these contributions, we derive some fiscal policy suggestions and conclusions. First, we think that there are reasons to be skeptical about the effectiveness and feasibility of a common fiscal policy for the purpose of stabilizing the business cycle. The reasons are that the fiscal transmission mechanisms are different among countries; countries need their own fiscal counter-cyclical measures in order to absorb idiosyncratic shocks, and, last but not least, European countries are not ready and willing to give up their sovereignty. Secondly, we suggest another type of coordination for EMU fiscal governance that is based on sharing resources at central level, through well-functioning and participated European institutions (along the lines of the ESM), that provide transfers to countries in exceptional circumstances and during period of downturns.LUISS PhD Thesi

The importance of being clustered

(I A Few-Cluster-Robust Test for Weak Instruments) - ABSTRACT - In the usual IV regression models, the quality of estimation and inference dra- matically depends on the relevance of the set of instruments. To test such condition, most empiricists rely on the first-stage F-statistic as suggested by Stock and Yogo (2005a). However, this method is not valid for clustered data, especially when there are few clusters. Recently, weak instrument-robust methods for inference have been proposed, but none of them deals with the latter case. In this paper, we propose a simple method to perform inference which is robust both to the presence of weak instruments and few clusters in the case of a single endogenous regressor. (II Sharing or gambling over losses?) - ABSTRACT - This paper investigates experimentally whether individuals prefer to share an exogenous loss in a deterministic way or to gamble over it. In particular, in some scenarios subjects face an equal allocation of the loss, in others a social lottery with an equal chance to suffer it entirely. The loss is implemented after the endowment is earned. We find that the loss domain does not affect subjects' behavior directly, but it decreases their probability to play in a competitive way.(I A Few-Cluster-Robust Test for Weak Instruments) - ABSTRACT - In the usual IV regression models, the quality of estimation and inference dra- matically depends on the relevance of the set of instruments. To test such condition, most empiricists rely on the first-stage F-statistic as suggested by Stock and Yogo (2005a). However, this method is not valid for clustered data, especially when there are few clusters. Recently, weak instrument-robust methods for inference have been proposed, but none of them deals with the latter case. In this paper, we propose a simple method to perform inference which is robust both to the presence of weak instruments and few clusters in the case of a single endogenous regressor. (II Sharing or gambling over losses?) - ABSTRACT - This paper investigates experimentally whether individuals prefer to share an exogenous loss in a deterministic way or to gamble over it. In particular, in some scenarios subjects face an equal allocation of the loss, in others a social lottery with an equal chance to suffer it entirely. The loss is implemented after the endowment is earned. We find that the loss domain does not affect subjects' behavior directly, but it decreases their probability to play in a competitive way.LUISS PhD Thesi

Strategies of disarmament: civil society and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty

This thesis explores the ideological bases of the global governance of nuclear weapons by analysing the role of civil society, an actor generally left aside by nuclear scholarship. Here the question of nuclear order is tackled with an unconventional approach that combines critical works in nuclear studies, critical constructivist works on security, and Antonio Gramsci’s theory of civil society. Such approach brings civil society to the forefront of analytical attention in order to show the cultural domination exercised by the bomb by inquiring into the common sense nature of nuclear discourse. This rests on the assumption that uncritically accepted ideas about what nuclear weapons do have been instrumental in generating the current nuclear order that, although under mounting challenges, remains based on a hierarchy between states protected by the bomb and all the rest. To understand how civil society challenges and reproduces that order, this thesis analyses the calls for nuclear disarmament advanced by organised collective actors and inquires, in a Gramscian way, into the common sense ingrained in those calls as well as their ability to constitute a united front. As a result, the thesis problematises the notion of disarmament, marking the importance of a struggle on its very concept between reductionist and abolitionist frames. It indicates that while the latter are involved in a radical opposition, the former are culturally dominated by the system of deterrence, thus coming to represent two distinct historic blocs: a counter-hegemonic opposition, on one hand, and an unwitting part of the hegemonic apparatus, on the other. This thesis concludes that 1) civil society is far from having created a unity of intent; and 2) the bases for the reliance on nuclear weapons are deeply entrenched, because of the pervasiveness, even inside civil society, of a common sense view of the nuclear threat.This thesis explores the ideological bases of the global governance of nuclear weapons by analysing the role of civil society, an actor generally left aside by nuclear scholarship. Here the question of nuclear order is tackled with an unconventional approach that combines critical works in nuclear studies, critical constructivist works on security, and Antonio Gramsci’s theory of civil society. Such approach brings civil society to the forefront of analytical attention in order to show the cultural domination exercised by the bomb by inquiring into the common sense nature of nuclear discourse. This rests on the assumption that uncritically accepted ideas about what nuclear weapons do have been instrumental in generating the current nuclear order that, although under mounting challenges, remains based on a hierarchy between states protected by the bomb and all the rest. To understand how civil society challenges and reproduces that order, this thesis analyses the calls for nuclear disarmament advanced by organised collective actors and inquires, in a Gramscian way, into the common sense ingrained in those calls as well as their ability to constitute a united front. As a result, the thesis problematises the notion of disarmament, marking the importance of a struggle on its very concept between reductionist and abolitionist frames. It indicates that while the latter are involved in a radical opposition, the former are culturally dominated by the system of deterrence, thus coming to represent two distinct historic blocs: a counter-hegemonic opposition, on one hand, and an unwitting part of the hegemonic apparatus, on the other. This thesis concludes that 1) civil society is far from having created a unity of intent; and 2) the bases for the reliance on nuclear weapons are deeply entrenched, because of the pervasiveness, even inside civil society, of a common sense view of the nuclear threat.LUISS PhD Thesi

How is social entrepreneurship possible? A multilevel study on social-entrepreneurial activity enabling mechanisms

ARTICLE 1 - Hybridization of diverging institutional logics through common-note practices An analogy with music and the case of social enterprises - ABSTRACT - Hybrid organizations exhibit high degree of innovativeness, but also instability due to the conflicting institutional logics underpinning their activities. We enrich the discussion on how to reconcile conflicting logics in hybrid organizations using the analogy with music theory. In particular, we get inspiration from a technique used to modulate conflicting harmonies by means of the notes they have in common (common-notes) to derive ideas on how to compose conflicting logics by means of the practices they have in common. We illustrate these ideas in the specific case of social enterprises, showing that practices able to “unblock” a marginalized individual’s value creation capabilities can be considered common-note practices allowing the social enterprise to fruitfully and sustainably combine commercial and social welfare logics. ARTICLE 2 - Made in Carcere: Freedom through empowerment for convicted women! - ABSTRACT - In this paper we analyze the case of Made in Carcere, an innovative social enterprise that creates and shares social and economic value with one of the most disadvantaged stakeholder groups in society: convicted women. Relying on an extensive database that covers eight years of activity, we propose a micro-level analysis of the processes adopted by Made in Carcere to empower its target stakeholders. We show that this complex effort is successfully unfolded through two macro-processes: the creation and management of a safe space, and allowing convicted women to reach and experience the external environment. Our work provides evidence of an exceptional organization that successfully confronts the restrictive and disempowering setting of prisons by empowering women through an innovative approach of human integral development. ARTICLE 3 - Mechanisms and boundaries of collective action in social entrepreneurship. - ABSTRACT - New frontiers in social entrepreneurship research are moving from the idea of the social entrepreneur as a single individual in favour of a larger model based on a multiplicity of subjects. In this paper we aim at moving this perspective onward and claim we should adopt a higher level of analysis considering the collective of subjects mobilized by the entrepreneur(s) to be really able to capture the social impact of the undertaken economic activity. Moreover, using a case study, we identify two mechanisms useful to draw the boundaries of such collective, the unit of analysis at the basis of this new perspective.ARTICLE 1 - Hybridization of diverging institutional logics through common-note practices An analogy with music and the case of social enterprises - ABSTRACT - Hybrid organizations exhibit high degree of innovativeness, but also instability due to the conflicting institutional logics underpinning their activities. We enrich the discussion on how to reconcile conflicting logics in hybrid organizations using the analogy with music theory. In particular, we get inspiration from a technique used to modulate conflicting harmonies by means of the notes they have in common (common-notes) to derive ideas on how to compose conflicting logics by means of the practices they have in common. We illustrate these ideas in the specific case of social enterprises, showing that practices able to “unblock” a marginalized individual’s value creation capabilities can be considered common-note practices allowing the social enterprise to fruitfully and sustainably combine commercial and social welfare logics. ARTICLE 2 - Made in Carcere: Freedom through empowerment for convicted women! - ABSTRACT - In this paper we analyze the case of Made in Carcere, an innovative social enterprise that creates and shares social and economic value with one of the most disadvantaged stakeholder groups in society: convicted women. Relying on an extensive database that covers eight years of activity, we propose a micro-level analysis of the processes adopted by Made in Carcere to empower its target stakeholders. We show that this complex effort is successfully unfolded through two macro-processes: the creation and management of a safe space, and allowing convicted women to reach and experience the external environment. Our work provides evidence of an exceptional organization that successfully confronts the restrictive and disempowering setting of prisons by empowering women through an innovative approach of human integral development. ARTICLE 3 - Mechanisms and boundaries of collective action in social entrepreneurship. - ABSTRACT - New frontiers in social entrepreneurship research are moving from the idea of the social entrepreneur as a single individual in favour of a larger model based on a multiplicity of subjects. In this paper we aim at moving this perspective onward and claim we should adopt a higher level of analysis considering the collective of subjects mobilized by the entrepreneur(s) to be really able to capture the social impact of the undertaken economic activity. Moreover, using a case study, we identify two mechanisms useful to draw the boundaries of such collective, the unit of analysis at the basis of this new perspective.LUISS PhD Thesi