Ruth Maria Santini

Ruth Maria Santini is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the Università degli Studi di Napoli 'L'Orientale', where she has served since 2012, becoming Associate Professor in 2019. She previously held research positions at the same institution (RTD A from 2012-2016, RTD B from 2016-2019) and has extensive international experience including work with the United Nations World Food Programme (2020-2023), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2013), and prestigious think tanks including ISPI, CEPS, SWP, The Brookings Institution, and the Transatlantic Academy.

Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Political Science from Federico II, Naples (2008), a Master of Arts in Near and Middle Eastern Politics from SOAS, London (2001-2002), and a Bachelor's Degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Bologna (2001).

Dr. Santini's research focuses on the nature of the state, conceptions of citizenship and democracy with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa; state-security relations; regional security and the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa; European foreign and security policy; and the international dimension of food insecurity. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of contemporary political challenges in the Mediterranean region.

Her extensive publication record shows a clear evolution from early work on European threat perceptions toward increasingly sophisticated analyses of statehood, governance, and security dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa, with recent publications expanding to examine food security and Italian foreign policy. Her scholarship demonstrates methodological diversity, combining qualitative analysis with theoretical innovation across political science, international relations, and security studies.

• Brookings Fellowship (Council for Italy-United States Relations, Rome) 2011
• Two-Year European Foreign and Security Studies Policy Program Fellowship (Compagnia di San Paolo, Volkswagen Stiftung, Riksbanken Jubieleumsfond) 2006-2008
• Marie Curie Pre-doctoral Fellowship at University of Birmingham (European Commission) 2004-2005

Dr. Santini has secured significant research funding including as Principal Investigator for the ITALINT project on international politics of food insecurity (€16,000, 2025-2026) and the RAP-RISK project on political risk analysis (€37,000, 2023-2026). She has coordinated multiple research projects including MIUR_SIR's Streetpol project (€347,000, 2016-2019) and the EUSPRING project (€500,000, 2013-2016). She serves on the Scientific Committees of the Cattaneo Institute, 'Politics in Italy,' and the Observer for Peace and Transition in Tunisia, and is a member of the Italian Association of Political Science (SISP) and SGRI (Standing Group International Relations).