Francesco Salesio Schiavi

Francesco Salesio Schiavi is a specialist in international relations of the Middle East. His particular focus lies in fragile and conflict-affected countries in the Levant and the Gulf, including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as armed non-state actors (NSAs) in the region, particularly those associated with Iran. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including security, defence, and governance in the MENA region. Francesco extensively studies international actors' military and diplomatic interventions in the MENA, primarily emphasising the USA, the EU, EU Member states, and NATO. Additionally, he examines the use of military technologies (like missiles and UAVs) by leading regional actors, such as Israel, Turkey, and Iran.

He is a contributor to many international firms, including Al-Monitor and the NATO Defence College Foundation, as well as the Italian magazine Limes. Between 2019 and 2023, he held a position as Researcher and Analyst at the MENA Centre at ISPI and as a valued member of the "Rome MED-Mediterranean Dialogues" scientific team. Before joining ISPI, he served as the Coordinator of the Middle East department at Pandora, Rivista di Teoria e Politica, in Bologna, where he co-edited the book "The Throne of Sand: State, Nations, and Power in the Middle East" ("Il trono di sabbia. Stato, nazioni e potere in Medio Oriente," Rosenberg & Sellier, 2019). Since 2023, Francesco has served as a Board Member of the Steering Committee for the Euromesco Annual Conference, which is organized by the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) in Barcelona in cooperation with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.