Giuseppe Ricotta

Giuseppe Ricotta is a Full Professor of General Sociology at Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Social and Economic Sciences, Faculty of Political Science, Sociology, and Communication. He has extensive experience in teaching sociology courses including "Advanced Sociology" in undergraduate programs and "Sociological Theories of Development" in master's programs. Ricotta serves on the Teaching Board of the PhD in Social and Economic Sciences and the PhD of National Interest in Peace Studies at Sapienza University.

• Graduated with honors in Sociology in 1996
• PhD in Social Systems and Public Policy Analysis in 2001 from Sapienza University of Rome
• Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
• Visiting Professor at Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul and Universitat de Lleida

Ricotta's research focuses on postcolonial critique and social exclusion; theories of modernization, risk, and insecurity; urban security policies and socio-territorial stigmatization. His work increasingly integrates decolonial perspectives into sociological theory, examining how coloniality structures contemporary social phenomena. He has developed significant expertise in urban sociology, particularly studying the San Lorenzo district in Rome, analyzing issues of gentrification, urban security, and social exclusion.

His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward decolonial sociology, with numerous works examining coloniality in social stratification, urban stigmatization, and health inequalities. Ricotta frequently employs interdisciplinary approaches, connecting sociology with public health, education, and urban studies. His research shows particular attention to how marginalized communities experience and resist various forms of exclusion.

• Member of the Teaching Board of the PhD in Social and Economic Sciences
• Member of the Teaching Board of the PhD of National Interest in PEACE STUDIES
• Principal investigator for "Urban Safety and Revitalization Processes in the San Lorenzo District, Rome. Sociological Analysis and Policy Proposals"

Ricotta has conducted extensive research on urban security policies in Italy, examining the relationship between neoliberalism and new punitiveness. His work on the San Lorenzo neighborhood in Rome explores issues of "movida" (nightlife), studentification, and hipification. He has also contributed significantly to understanding social exclusion and marginality in urban areas through a decolonial lens, analyzing how territorial stigmatization operates as a mechanism of social control and spatial segregation.