La Face Cam des doctorants : Stefano Chessa Altieri, Centre d’histoire de Sciences Po

This dissertation is the product of an incredible five-year journey – one that have exceeded all  my initial expectations and during which I did my best to address the many gaps I had (and still  have) in the study of history. It has been a continuous effort to refine my thinking, analysis,  and narrative while deepening my understanding of the past. From the moment I made the  decision – perhaps with a touch of naivety but great excitement – to redirect my personal and  professional path, none of this would have been possible without the generosity, trust,  guidance, and example of my mentor, Mario Del Pero. I had long sought a maestro from whom  to absorb passion, commitment, and dedication to the discipline, and I found that in him. His approach – consistently challenging me by “throwing me into the sea without a life jacket” – has been instrumental in my growth. While I still have much to learn before I can truly claim  to “swim,” at the very least, I have managed not to drown. I owe him every milestone I have  reached over these past years and will always remain deeply indebted, hoping one day to give  back even a fraction of what he has given me. 

I was immensely fortunate to begin this journey at the London School of Economics’ Department of International History, where I first developed a mature approach to historical  study. I could not have been luckier than to be introduced to the field by Tanya Harmer, a  passionate, dedicated, and rigorous instructor whose mentorship I will always remember with  deep gratitude and admiration. I am also sincerely grateful to my academic mentor and MSc  thesis supervisor, Matthew Jones and Steven Casey. Rejoining the LSE community while being  a PhD candidate through the Sciences Po-LSE International Contemporary History Seminar,  which I co-convened for two years, was a true pleasure. 

Being a doctoral candidate at two distinguished institutions – the Scuola Superiore Meridionale in Naples and the Centre d’Histoire at Sciences Po in Paris – has been a great honor. I am  profoundly grateful to Gia Caglioti for believing in me as an inexperienced and unseasoned doctoral applicant and for equipping me with the support and resources to grow throughout this  journey. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation for the vibrant and inspiring  community in Naples, particularly Luca Puddu and Orçun Okan, whose intellectual influence  was crucial during the early stages of my PhD. Additionally, I wish to extend my thanks to  Antonella Salomoni for her support. In Paris, special thanks go to the heads of the Centre  d’Histoire and coordinators of the 2021-22 first-year doctoral workshop, Marc Lazar and Paul André Rosental, as well as to my comité de suivi members, Hugo Meijer and Frédéric Bozo,  whose invaluable critiques and feedback helped sharpen my research. I am grateful to the  faculty and administrative team at Sciences Po for their kindness and support, including Régine  Serra, Lydia Subtil, Carole Giry, Marie-Laure Dagieu, Emma Albrand, and Clémentine Scott.  I am also grateful to the École de la Recherche team and the International Affairs Division for offering me the opportunity to  participate in two remarkable international programs – the Columbia Alliance and the Fox  Fellowship. Finally, I want to thank – and extend my apologies to – the students at Sciences  Po’s Le Havre and Reims campuses who had the “opportunity” (or perhaps the misfortune) of  witnessing my first unsteady steps into the fascinating and challenging world of teaching. 

Doctoral life would not have been the same without the brilliant colleagues with whom I shared  this journey. Their friendship, intellectual exchange, and camaraderie have been invaluable. In  particular, I want to thank Lorenzo Bonomelli, Pietro Menghini, Anna Nasser, Giulio Piumelli,  Justina Smalkyte, Yuqing Qiu, Tom Meinderts, Andrew Bell, Chloë Mayoux, Carlo De Nuzzo,  Zoé Allen-Mercier, and many others. My time in the United States also brought me into contact with wonderful peers, including Abrehet Gebremedhin at American University and my fellow  Fox Fellows at Yale – with a special thanks to my housemates Hector Mendoza and Tobias  Zimmermann – whose support and multidiscipline insights enriched my research. 

I am profoundly indebted to the exceptional scholars who welcomed me during my research  stays in the United States. First and foremost, Sarah B. Snyder, whose mentorship during my  time at American University from August to December 2022 extended far beyond those  months. Her generosity, guidance, and precious feedback have had a lasting impact, and I  cannot thank her enough. At Columbia and Yale, I was fortunate to be mentored by Anders  Stephanson and Arne Westad, both of whom took the time to read and engage with my work  while involving me in thought-provoking activities at their respective institutions. The  opportunity to learn from these three scholars – whose work has been a source of inspiration  for me – was something I could never have imagined when I first embarked on this journey. 

I am also deeply grateful to the experts who took the time to read and critique my research,  offering invaluable insights as discussants and commentators at conferences and workshops.  In particular, I thank Federico Romero, Marco Mariano, Gaetano Di Tommaso, Jeremy  Adelman, Andrew Preston, Emily Erikson, Anne L. Foster, Péter Marton, and Arunabh Ghosh.  Their engagement and constructive feedback have been instrumental in refining my work. A  special thank you goes to Elizabeth Ingleson, whose support and insight I deeply appreciate,  and to Umberto Tulli, who was exceptionally generous in providing important primary sources  for my master’s thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Conducting archival research for the first time was both an exciting and daunting experience,  and I am deeply grateful to the archivists who guided me through it. I am especially thankful  for the kindness and support of the staff at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in  College Station, Texas – particularly Lisa Trampota, Elizabeth Staats, Doug Campbell, and  Mary Finch – who made my first archival experience an unforgettable one. I also extend my  sincere gratitude to Jason Kaplan at the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock,  Arkansas, for his invaluable assistance. 

I am equally indebted to the individuals who generously agreed to be interviewed for this  research. Their insights have been invaluable in shaping this work. In particular, I will always  cherish the exceptional kindness and grace of Mrs. Judy Lemon, to whom I extend my deepest  thanks. 

I am immensely grateful to Alessandra Bitumi and the academic board of RSA Journal for  providing me with the opportunity to publish my first academic contribution, as well as for  their kind words and encouragement. 

Over the past six years, I have lived in a different place almost every year, yet I have always  had the unwavering support of close friends who have cheered me on at every step. To my  lifelong friends in Sardinia – Andrea, Francesca, Isabella, Lucia, Maria, Maria Elena, Marta,  and Silvia – as well as those in Milan, Paris, Rome, Forlì, and Melbourne – Daniele, Davide,  Elisa, Federico, Giulia, Maria, Mitia, Simonetta, Tania, and Viki – thank you for your  friendship and encouragement. I also extend my gratitude to my former colleagues in Milan,  Giovanni and Samantha, for their continued support. 

Finally, my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude goes to my family – Mamma, Papà, Francy,  and Bianchina – whose love and support have been, and always will be, indispensable.