Francesco Colin

Francesco Colin is a Visiting Research Fellow at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a lecturer at the American College of the Mediterranean in France. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from ISS (2024) and is actively engaged in research on civil society, citizenship, and governance in Morocco and the Mediterranean region. He is also a senior fellow at the Moroccan Institute of Policy Analysis (MIPA) and a contributor to the Arab Reform Initiative.

Education:

• PhD in Development Studies, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam (2024)
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree: Crossing the Mediterranean: Towards Investment and Integration (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier)
• Bachelor's in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies, University of Bologna

Francesco's research centers on the intersection of local, national, and international governance, with a focus on civic engagement and civil society in Morocco. His work explores themes such as the right to petition, decentralization, social accountability, and political inclusion. Drawing from political sociology and development studies, he investigates how citizens navigate institutional frameworks to assert rights and influence governance.

His recent publications span journals like Democratization, Revista de Estudios Internacionales Mediterraneos, and Mediterranean Politics, as well as chapters in academic volumes from Palgrave Macmillan and University of Michigan Press. The articles reflect a consistent focus on Moroccan municipalities, citizen-state interactions, and transnational solidarity movements, particularly regarding Palestine. His research combines qualitative analysis with fieldwork, emphasizing the lived experiences of civic actors in semi-authoritarian contexts.

Francesco has collaborated with scholars such as Susanne Ibrahim Bergh and has contributed to policy-oriented research through MIPA and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. He has also co-organized academic events, including the 18th Development Dialogue Conference (2022), indicating active participation in scholarly networks.

He previously worked as a consultant for local and international NGOs in Morocco and served as a junior expert with the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Rabat, demonstrating a strong commitment to applied research and policy engagement.

He is affiliated with the following institutions:

• International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam – Visiting Research Fellow
• American College of the Mediterranean – Lecturer
• Moroccan Institute of Policy Analysis (MIPA) – Senior Fellow
• Arab Reform Initiative – Contributor