Luigi Chiara is Full Professor of Contemporary History at the Department of Political and Judicial Sciences of the University of Messina. He is President of the Centro Studi sulle Mafie (Centre for Mafia Studies) and Director of Messina University Press, the university’s publishing house.
Over the years, his research has focused on the social and economic history of Southern Italy, particularly the origins and development of the Sicilian mafia, the history of urban bourgeoisies, cultural associationism, as well as the broader contexts of Sicily, the Southern Question, and the North-South divide. He has also conducted research on Italy’s political history, especially the ruling classes from the Giolittian era through to the end of WWI.
Additionally, his studies examine the transformations of the nation-state in the era of globalisation, addressing issues such as the crisis of sovereignty and the protection of fundamental citizens’ rights; the development of contemporary institutions and society (i.e. the impact of legislative reforms following "Tangentopoli", political-administrative corruption, the development of Italian mafias, migration studies).