Flavio Felice (Turin, May 15 1969) is full professor of History of Political Doctrines at Humanistic, Social and Training Sciences Department (SUSeF) of the Molise University of Studies (since 2016). Member of the Commission Professors and Students of the SUSeF Department; he is also responsible for the Erasmus project for the Degree Course in Communication Sciences. Michael Novak Distingueshed Visting Scholar-In Residence at the Catholic University of America di Washington DC (January -May 2025), visiting professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome (2018-2024). He was full professor of Political and Economic Doctrines at the Pontifical Lateran University (2001-2016). Since 2010, he has been Director of the International Research Area Caritas in Veritate, on the Social Doctrine of the Church, also at the Pontifical Lateran University. He has been visiting professor at the Catholic University Sedes Sapientiae of Lima (Peru), at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. (USA) and at the Catholic University of Argentina of Buenos Aires. He is President of Scientific Council of the Istituto di Studi Politici San Pio V of Rome and member of the Board of Directors of the same Institute, Chef Editor of the Academical Journal “Prospettiva Persona” and "Power and Democracy", President of the Tocqueville-Acton Centre Studies and Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Faith & Reason Institute, both in Washington DC and member of The Mont Pelrin Society. On June 2 2025 he was named Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

With particular reference to research work, over the years he has developed a line of thought that aims at an ever-closer dialogue between Christian social thought and the social sciences – specifically, devoted to issues such as “common good,” “market,” “democracy,” and “inclusion.” In the course of his research, he has encountered several strands of thought on which he has focused his attention: the “personalism” of Antonio Rosmini, the “popolarismo” of Luigi Sturzo, the “classical liberalism” of Alexis de Tocqueville and Lord Acton, the economic analysis of the Austrian school of Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich August von Hayek, the reinterpretation of personalism and liberalism made by Michael Novak, the “Ordoliberal” critique to lassez-faire liberalism, represented by German economist Walter Eucken, and the reworking of liberal humanism promoted by the fathers of the so-called “Social Market Economy”, such as Alfred Müller-Armack and Wilhelm Röpke. This path led him to consider the issue of freedom and inclusion as the key points of possible meeting between the Social Doctrine of the Church and the social sciences. Confronting, engaged with the instances raised by both Christian social thought and studies of institutions by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, he has focused his most recent studies on inclusive quality of political institutions, which refers to a polyarchic and balanced view of sovereignty.

 

PERSONAL DATA

Nationality: Italian

Birthplace: Turin.

Date of birth: May 15^th 1969.

STUDIES

1995 – Laurea Degree in “Political Sciences” at the University of Teramo.

1996-97 - Scholar in Residence at the “School of Philosophy” of the “Catholic University of America”, under the guidance of Dean Prof. Jude P. Dougherty.

1996-97 - Visiting Scholar as Abramson Fellow at the “American Enterprise Institute” in Washington D.C., Chair of “Religion and Public Policy”, under the guidance of Michael Novak, developing a research program dedicated to “Investigating American Social Thought”.

AWARDS

Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - June 2 2025

Capri award 2014, section philosophy for the book La vita alla luce della fede. riflessioni filosofiche e socio-politiche sull’enciclica “Limen fidei” (written together with Dario Antiseri)

Anassilaos award 2022, section Μεγάλη Ελλάϛ

ACADEMICIAN ACTIVITY

– present – Full Professor of “History of Political Doctrines” at the Molise University of Studies

January-May 2025 - Michael Novak Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Residence at the Busch School of Business of the Catholic University of America in Washington DC

2018 – 2025– Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University

2017 – Present – Visiting professor on “Political and Economic Philosophy” at the Pontifical Antonianum University.

2013 – 2016 – Full professor of “Economic and Political Doctrines” at the School of Law of the Pontifical Lateran University.

2010 – 2013 – Full Professor of “Economic and Political Doctrines”, at the Pontifical Pastoral Institute “Redemptor Hominis” of the Pontifical Lateran University.

2010 – 2016 – Director of the International Research Area “Caritas in Veritate” at the Pontifical Lateran University.

2011 – 2015 – Vice-Dean of the Pontifical Pastoral Institute “Redemptor Hominis” of the Pontifical Lateran University.

2006 – 2010 – Extraordinary Professor of “Economic and Political Doctrines”, at the Pontifical Pastoral Institute “Redemptor Hominis” of the Pontifical Lateran University.

2001 – 2006 – Contract Professor of “Economic and Political Doctrines”, at the Pontifical Pastoral Institute “Redemptor Hominis” of the Pontifical Lateran University.

2005 – 2007 – Visiting Professor at the Catholic University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

2013 – 2014 – Contract Professor of “History of Western Enterprise” at the Human Sceinces Department of LUMSA University of Rome.

2007 – 2009 – Contract Professor of “Philosophy of Enterprise” at the LUISS University of Rome.

Visiting Professor at the Catholic University Sedes Sapientiae of Lima (Peru)

Fellow of the editorial board of the journal “Global & Local Economic Review”.

Fellow of Scientific Board of the journal "The European Union Review"

Fellow of the editorial board of the journal “Mises”.

Fellow of the Advisory board of the journal “Atheneum. Plskie Studia Politologiczne”

President of the Scientific Board of the Istituto di Studi Politici San Pio V (Rome)

Director of book series “Il liberalismo delle regole”, Rubbettino Editore, Soveria Mannelli (CZ).

Director of book series “Polis & Oikonomia”, Effatà Editrice, Cantalupo (TO).

Director of book series “Profili storici” of the Pescarabruzzo Foundation.

Secretary of Scientific Board and editorial secretary of the book series "Economia Social de Mercado"

Chef Editor of the scientific journal “Prospettiva Persona”.

Chef Editor of the scientific journal "Power and Demcracy"

President of Tocqueville-Acton Centre Studies – Milan-Rome

Member of the Mont Pelerin Society

Fellow at the Röpke Institut – Erfurt (Germania)

No-Resident Research Fellow at the “Faith and Reason Institue”, Washington DC

Fellow at the Institute of Humane Ecology (IHE), Catholic University of America - Washington D.C.

Columnist of “Avvenire”, “Il Foglio”, “Il Giornale”

 

OTHER PAST ACTIVITIES

2001 – 2009 – Fellow of the “Centro di Metodologia delle Scienze Sociali”, LUISS University, Rome.

2003 – 2016 – Coordinator of the “Centesimus Annus Foundation Pro Pontifice” training courses.

2005 – 2007 – Codirector of magazine: “Incipit: economia, scienza e società”.

2004 – 2007 – Scientific Director of Finetica Observatory (Università Bocconi – Università Lateranense).

1997-2000 - Corresponding Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) in Washington D.C.