The (mis)characterization and (de)legitimizing of apolitical protests in South Africa from the perspective of labeling theory
The article “The (mis)characterization and (de)legitimizing of apolitical protests in South Africa from the perspective of labeling theory” (Frontiers, 2026) examines, through the lens of labeling theory, how media and political portrayals of protests in South Africa can delegitimise the claims of marginalised communities and contribute to justifying repressive responses.
The legal status of foreign nationals as a testing ground for contemporary law
On 5 and 6 November 2026, the 7th Annual Conference of the ‘Cesare Beccaria’ Department of Legal Sciences at the University of Milan will be held, entitled “La condizione giuridica dello straniero come laboratorio del diritto contemporaneo”.
Beyond polarisation: listening to young people, understanding conflict
The events in Milan continue to occupy a prominent place in public debate. Major national newspapers—and others beyond Italy—have reported on the demonstrations, frequently resorting to sensationalist headlines and delegitimizing labels such as “thugs” or “maranza” to describe the young people who took part in the protests, thereby producing an undifferentiated representation of the demonstrators.
From populist instrumentalisation to a focus on the individual. Criminal policy’s attention to emotions between care and justice
The article examines the role of emotions in criminal policy, relating security-oriented and populist dynamics to a conception of justice focused on the individual. Particular attention is given to the potential of emotions as a resource for criminal policy oriented towards care and restorative justice.
Case 137 and the Legacy of the Genoa G8, Twenty-Five Years On
On Wednesday, 15 July 2026, at 8:30 pm, the AriAnteo open-air cinema at Palazzo Reale (Piazza Duomo 12, Milan) will host “Il caso 137 e l’eredità del G8 di Genova, venticinque anni dopo. Sicurezza, diritti e responsabilità,” a discussion organized by Rete per i Diritti as part of its programme marking the 25th anniversary of the Genoa G8 (2001–2026).
The latest issue of "Eutopica: La rivista delle autonomie locali" is out
The second 2026 issue of Eutopica: La rivista delle autonomie locali, titled "Toward Democratic Security: The Response of Cities," has been published, edited by Roberto Cornelli and Gian Guido Nobili.
Authoritarianisms in Democracy
As part of the cultural initiatives promoted by the Casa della Cultura in Milan, the new series "Autoritarismi in democrazia" [Authoritarianisms in Democracy] is launching — a cycle of events aimed at exploring the political, social, and symbolic transformations that, in many parts of the world, are putting democratic institutions under pressure today.
Security, Criminal Control and Police Prevention
The conference “Security, Criminal Control and Police Prevention” will take place on June 17 and is organized by the Fondazione Centro Nazionale di Prevenzione e Difesa Sociale (CNDPS), in collaboration with Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione Monte di Lombardia.
Concepts and conditions of penal moderation: Penal policy, public philosophy, and political ideologies
The article explores the concept of penal moderation and the conditions for its development in contemporary democracies. Drawing on the Italian case, it highlights the structural and political limits to building less punitive and more publicly grounded penal policies.
Legalized police impunity in the modern carceral state
The article examines the legal production of police impunity within the contemporary carceral state, highlighting the role of legal protections that undermine accountability. Drawing on Weberian theory, it shows how such mechanisms contribute to near-absolute structural impunity.