I'm an assistant professor of political theory and the co-editor of the European Journal of Political Theory. My PhD is in philosophy, from the University of St Andrews. My main focus is the relation between the descriptive and the normative study of society. More specifically, I'm interested in (i) methodological issues in political theory, e.g. realism vs moralism and, relatedly but separately, ideal vs non-ideal theory; (ii) the historical development of liberalism; (iii) the legitimacy and justification of political authority; (iv) the accommodation of diversity; (v) the intersection between those issues. Those interests are combined in my current project of developing a realist theory of legitimacy. 

Journal Articles (in English)

• 'Can Realism Move Beyond a Methodenstreit?', Political Theory, forthcoming [review article].
• 'Political Norms and Moral Values', Journal of Philosophical Research, forthcoming 2015 (with Rob Jubb). -- To be published with a reply by Eva Erman and Niklas Möller ('Why Political Realists Should Not Be Afraid of Moral Values'), and a rejoinder by Jubb and Rossi ('Why Moralists Should Be Afraid of Political Values').

• 'Realism in Normative Political Theory', Philosophy Compass 9/10 (2014): 689-701 (with Matt Sleat).
• ‘Legitimacy, Democracy and Public Justification: Rawls' Political Liberalism vs Gaus' Justificatory Liberalism’, Res Publica: A Journal of Moral, Legal and Social Philosophy 20.1 (2014): 9-25.
• 'Legitimacy and Consensus in Rawls' Political Liberalism, Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica 27.1 (2014): 37-56. 
• ‘Pluralism Slippery Slopes and Democratic Public Discourse’, Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory 137 (2013): 29-47 (With Maria Paola Ferretti).
• 'Pluralism, Preferences and Deliberation: A Critique of Sen's Constructive Argument for Democracy', Journal of Social Philosophy 44.2 (2013): 129-145 (with Carlo Argenton).
• ‘Compromise, Consensus, Justice and Legitimacy’, Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 16.4 (2013): 557-572.
• ‘Can Tolerance Be Grounded in Equal Respect?’, European Journal of Political Theory 12.3 (2013): 240-252. -- Portuguese translation forthcoming in Fundamento: Revista de Pesquisa em Filosofia (Brasil).

• ‘Justice, Legitimacy, and (Normative) Authority for Political Realists’ Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 15.2(2012): 149-164.
• ‘Modus Vivendi, Consensus, and (Realist) Liberal Legitimacy’, Public Reason 2.2 (2010): 21-39.
• ‘Reality and Imagination in Political Theory and Practice: On Raymond Geuss’s Realism’, European Journal of Political Theory,9.4(2010): 204-12 [Review article].
• ‘Liberalism, Modernity, and Communal Being’, Imprints: Egalitarian Theory and Practice, 10.3 (2010): 257-64 [Review article].
• ‘The Exemption That Confirms the Rule: Reflections on Proceduralism and the UK Hybrid Embryos Controversy’, Res Publica: A Journal of Moral, Legal and Social Philosophy 15.3 (2009): 237-50.
• ‘Liberal Democracy and the Challenge of Ethical Diversity’, Human Affairs: Postdisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 18.1 (2008): 10-22.

Edited Books

• Justice, Legitimacy, and Diversity: Political Authority Between Realism and Moralism (with Emanuela Ceva). London: Routledge, 2012. Contributors: Emanuela Ceva, Gerald F. Gaus, John Horton, Sebastiano Maffettone, Simon Cabulea May, Glen Newey, Valeria Ottonelli, Enzo Rossi.
• Oltre le culture. Valori e contesti della comunicazione interculturale (with Emanuele Bardone). (Como and Pavia: Ibis, 2004). Contributors: Ian Carter, Maria Paola Ferretti, John Horton, Will Kymlicka, Lorenzo Magnani, Vincenzo Matera, Paolo Ramat, Mario Ricciardi, Salvatore Veca.

Book Chapters and Other Publications (Selection)

• 'Contested Identities and Spatial Marginalisation: The Case of Gypsy-Travellers in Wales' (With F. Chiesa), in S. Moroni & D. Weberman, eds, Space and Pluralism (CEU Press, forthcoming 2014).
• 'Reinforcements to the Rescue', Times Higher Education 24.5.2012 [invited review].
• ‘La persistenza della modernità’, in S. Barbagallo (ed.), La condizione transmoderna (Rome: Aracne, 2010).
• ‘Usi e abusi del piano inclinato in circostanze di pluralismo’ (With M.P. Ferretti), Notizie di Politeia 25.95(2009): 57-71.
• The entries ‘Freedom of Speech’ and ‘Natural Law’ in The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Philosophy (A.C. Grayling, N. Goulder and A. Pyle, eds). London: Thoemmes Continuum, 2006.

• Co-editor, European Journal of Political Theory.
• Member of the Executive Committee, Association for Legal and Social Philosophy. 

• No ancillary activities