Christian Giuseppe De Vito is a Professor of Global Economic and Social History at the University of Vienna (Austria) and serves as Head of the Department of Economic and Social History (WISO) from 2024-2026. His research focuses on social history, global labor systems, punishment regimes, and the history of the Spanish Empire. He holds a PhD from the Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, and has held academic positions at the University of Bonn and the University of Leicester. Educations: PhD in History, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa (2003-2008) BA and MA in History, University of Florence (1995-2001) Key Roles: Co-coordinator of the FSP Global History program Co-coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Global Studies (EMGS) Programme Editorial roles in journals like Crime, Histoire & Sociétés and Revista Mundos do Trabalho Research Interests: His work bridges microhistory and global frameworks, examining topics such as convict labor, penal systems, social movements, and the intersections of punishment with empire-building. He emphasizes spatial analysis and transnational networks in historical studies. Recent projects explore the Spanish Empire’s punitive strategies and labor coercion in colonial contexts. Professional Contributions: He co-edited volumes on global labor and micro-spatial histories, and his articles analyze topics like enslavement, convict labor, and penal regimes across Europe, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. He actively participates in international scholarly networks, including the Social History Association (ISHA) and the International Conference of Labour and Social History (ITH). Labs/Teams: Leads research initiatives on global punishment and labor history through collaborative projects with institutions like the Bonn Centre for Dependency Studies and the University of Leuven.






