PHD THESIS

PhD Title : Problematic Narratives: The Legacy of Muslim Sicily in the Italian Socio-political Landscape

PhD Completion: Expected 2027

PhD Supervisor & Co-Supervisor:  Davide Rodogno

Thesis Short Description: My PhD project is dedicated to examining the role of the memory of Muslim Sicily in the post-unification construction of Italian identity and within the context of contemporary discussions surrounding immigration, multiculturalism, and the position of Islam. The central aim is to explore how the Muslim heritage of the island has been problematised within the context of Italian political history. The analysis will investigate the problematisation of Muslim Sicily in the construction of Italian identity, especially in relation to the Southern Question and the ‘Southern Other’ since the unification of Italy. Interwoven with broader themes like immigration, multiculturalism, and the contemporary role of Islam in Europe, the research also aims to assess the factors that have influenced contemporary debates or references to Muslim Sicily. Ultimately, it will investigate how the memory of this past reconciles with the prevailing notion of Islam as the ‘Other’ in both Italy and Europe. Situated at the intersection of various research fields, including Italian history, the memory of Spanish Al-Andalus, national narrative formation, and discussions on the role of Islam and Christianity in Europe and Italy, my project seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between historical memory and contemporary identity formation.
 

Research Interests
 

• Italian and Spanish history and politics
• Politics of immigration
•  European integration, multiculturalism, and discrimination
• Religion and politics
• Memory and politics of the past
   

PROFILE

Giovanna Cuillo is a PhD researcher in International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. She completed an MPhil in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge with distinction in 2023. Her dissertation, titled: ‘The Reconquista in the Discourse of Vox’ explored the memory of Al-Andalus in contemporary Spanish politics. She achieved distinction in her graduation from King’s College London in 2022, with a dissertation titled ‘The Permeability of Sexual Relations Boundaries in Medieval Iberia’.
 

Fellowships, Grant and Awards
 

• The Martin Hall Prize in Eighteenth-Century French Studies, awarded by King's College London in 2022. Awarded to the student who achieves the highest mark for any piece of work related to eighteenth-century French literature.
• Henry Neville Gladstone Exhibition Prize, awarded by King's College London in 2019. Awarded to the student achieving the highest overall mark in the first year.