The project aims to analyze the secession of South Kasai, a central episode that has been only weakly investigated within the broader Congo crisis of the early 1960s. In doing so, the research will attempt to take into account both neo-colonial aspects and distinctly local factors of the Kasai question.
On the one hand, by analyzing the extensive support provided to the secession by the Belgian authorities, the major diamond companies operating in the area, and the promoters of the other Congolese secession—that of Katanga—the project intends to contribute to the debate on the neo-colonial elements of the crisis. On the other hand, in light of the crucial role played by local actors, the project aims to contribute to the important debate on African agency. Two of the most important reasons behind the secession, in fact, can be found in interethnic tensions and power struggles at the top for access to political power and resources.
Overall, the research activity aims to shed light on an episode that is still little known, yet nonetheless central, in the troubled post-colonial period of the Congo, and thereby improve understanding of one of the most significant political crises of the 1960s. A crisis so important that it produced lasting and profound consequences not only within Congo's borders, but also at both the regional and international levels.

The project aims to understand and explain the cooperation between Italy and West Germany in addressing political violence and terrorism from a historical perspective, from 1960 to 1980. It considers how the institutions, particularly the ministries of the interior of both countries, perceived, defined, and shaped the concept of terrorism, analyzing its development in legal, political, and security contexts. The study then examines bilateral discussions and new cooperation efforts, focusing on "social revolutionary terrorism." Special attention is given to militant groups like the Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction, emphasizing cross-border interactions and shared security concerns. A key part of the research looks at the South Tyrol issue, seen as a source of political tension in Italian-German relations, and how it influenced diplomatic exchanges and led to new forms of political and law enforcement cooperation. Understanding the historical trajectory of this bilateral cooperation will contribute to a better understanding of the current limits and potentials of German-Italian cooperation within the European framework.