Enzo Traverso

Enzo Traverso is the Susan and Barton Winokur Professor in the Humanities at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His scholarly work bridges the Department of History, French Studies Program, Jewish Studies Program, and Romance Studies. Born in Italy, he studied at the University of Genoa and earned his PhD from EHESS in Paris (1989). Before joining Cornell in 2013, he taught political science in France for two decades and held visiting professorships across Europe and Latin America.

• Education: University of Genoa (Italy), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (PhD, 1989)

Traverso’s research explores intellectual history, historiography, and critical theory, focusing on twentieth-century Europe. His work interrogates the intersections of war, fascism, genocide, revolution, and collective memory. His authored books, translated into over fifteen languages, have established him as a leading scholar in these areas.

His recent publications reflect a trajectory analyzing historical memory, revolutionary ideologies, and the resurgence of far-right movements. Articles in journals like History & Theory and Historical Materialism further contextualize his contributions to debates on totalitarianism, Jewish modernity, and postwar political thought.

• Awards: Premio Pozzale (2014), Premio Lo Straniero/Gli Asini (2018), Premio Napoli (2022)

Traverso has advised students through courses on topics such as Left-Wing Melancholia, Holocaust memory, and the European Civil War. His academic influence extends via editorial contributions to journals like Jacobin, Constellations, and Il Manifesto.