Fabio LEONE

Fabio Leone is an Adjunct Professor of International Relations at both the University of Bologna and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Asian and North African Studies. His academic work focuses on South Asian politics, particularly the democratization processes, political leadership, and foreign policy of India and Sri Lanka.

His research interests include: Indian politics and economics, South Asian history and politics, democracy and democratization, political leadership, Indian foreign policy, and comparative politics with a geographical focus on South Asia. He has conducted extensive research on the role of political elites in shaping democratic institutions in India, as reflected in his 2019 monograph Prophet and Statesman in Crafting Democracy in India.

The most recent articles demonstrate a consistent focus on democratic evolution in South Asia, particularly India’s exceptional democratic path and Sri Lanka’s fluctuating democratic trajectory. His publications span peer-reviewed journals such as Asia Maior, Political Studies Review, and Democratization, covering themes like dynastic politics, democratic resilience, and regional governance challenges.

He has been recognized through participation in major international conferences including the European Conference for South Asian Studies (ECSAS), British Association for South Asian Studies (BASAS), and the Political Studies Association (PSA) conferences. He is affiliated with professional associations such as Asia Maior, SISI, SISSCO, BASAS, and ECPR.

Leone has held various academic roles including Research Fellow, Contract Professor, and Teaching Assistant at institutions such as the University of Siena, University of Padua, University of Eastern Piedmont, and the University of Bologna. He completed his PhD in Comparative Politics at the University of Siena in 2014, with a dissertation on political leadership in Indian democratization. He also has international research experience at the Pew Research Center (USA) and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (UK).

He regularly delivers invited lectures and seminars on Indian foreign policy, global power status, and EU politics at universities across Italy. His academic contributions reflect a deep engagement with both theoretical and empirical dimensions of democracy and governance in South Asia.