Environmental History, Urban Transformation, and Ecological Thought: Selected Works

Explore a curated selection of publications on environmental history, urban development, and contemporary ecological thought. These works analyze the relationship between society and the environment from historical, methodological, and critical perspectives, with a focus on Italy and global environmental debates.

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Sources for Environmental History: Methods, Archives, and Research Paths

(Le fonti per la storia dell’ambiente. Alcune proposte di lavoro, 2013)

This volume offers a comprehensive reflection on environmental history research methods, focusing on how historians reconstruct the relationship between human activity and the natural environment. It explores a wide range of historical sources, including private archives, institutional records, newspapers, scientific publications, and oral testimonies.

A key theme is the fragmented nature of environmental documentation. Many sources related to pollution, industrial development, and environmental conflicts have been lost or dispersed, making research in this field both complex and investigative. The book highlights how environmental history is deeply connected to social and political conflicts, from debates on energy and sustainability to struggles over public health and natural resources.

By combining historiography with practical research guidance, this work is an essential resource for scholars interested in environmental studies, sustainability history, and interdisciplinary research.

Keywords: environmental history, research methods, historical sources, sustainability studies, environmental archives

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Caserta (1945–1974): Urban Growth and Environmental Change in Post-War Italy

(Caserta (1945-1974). Una storia urbana e ambientale, 2013)

This book examines the urban transformation of Caserta during the post-war economic boom, a period marked by rapid urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and social change. Through statistical data, archival research, and press analysis, the study reconstructs how the city evolved into a modern urban system within a growing metropolitan area.

The work highlights the impact of economic development on the environment, showing how new housing, road networks, and industrial activities reshaped both the territory and everyday life. It also addresses early environmental challenges, including water scarcity, sanitation issues, and pollution, revealing the hidden costs of modernization.

By integrating urban history and environmental analysis, the book provides valuable insights into the relationship between city planning, economic growth, and ecological sustainability in post-war Italy.

Keywords: urban history, Caserta, post-war Italy, urbanization, environmental change, city planning, sustainability

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Gazes on the Environment: Ecology, Society, and the Politics of Environmental Discourse

(A Jumble of Thoughts on Ecology and Society, 2025)

This collection of essays explores contemporary environmental issues, climate debate, and ecological thought through a critical and interdisciplinary lens. It examines the contradictions within modern environmental discourse, from climate change narratives and energy transitions to cultural and political interpretations of sustainability.

The book analyzes the tension between different approaches to environmentalism—technocratic, grassroots, and ideological—highlighting how media, politics, and public opinion shape our understanding of ecological crises. Topics include energy geopolitics, environmental justice, animal ethics, and the Anthropocene, offering a broad perspective on today’s environmental challenges.

Designed for readers interested in environmental politics, sustainability debates, and critical theory, this work encourages a deeper and more nuanced engagement with the complexities of the global ecological crisis.

Keywords: environmental discourse, climate change, sustainability, energy transition, environmental politics, ecological thought

Downloads of these publications are available on the Publications page