Giacomo Bazzani is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Florence and Principal Investigator of the Prosocial Motivations for Climate Mitigation Behaviors (PROSOCIAL-CLIMA) project. His research focuses on three key areas: solidarity and sustainability transitions, future and agency, and the interplay between money and social change.
1. Solidarity and Sustainability Transitions
Bazzani expands sociological theory by introducing altruistic solidarity, oriented toward the welfare of groups distant in space, time, or social ties, and distinct from mechanical and organic forms. Linking environmental sociology and collective action theory, he defines solidarity as prosocial behavior—at individual, collective, and institutional levels—providing a framework to understand how intergenerational, transnational, and ecological solidarities drive sustainability transitions.
Key publications:
2. Future and Agency
Bazzani advances research on agency and decision-making under uncertainty by conceptualizing agency as a conversion process, where individuals transform structural constraints into opportunities for action. His work connects future studies with sociological theory, clarifying how expectations, imaginaries, and narratives influence decision-making. He also applies experimental methods to study the impact of future-oriented narratives on behavior, offering empirical insights into how people react to uncertain social and economic conditions.
3. Money and Social Change
Bazzani’s research on monetary innovation and prosocial behavior bridges sociology and sustainability studies. He examines how alternative currencies, digital money, and financial infrastructures can foster social cohesion, resilience, and sustainability. His work highlights how monetary systems are not just economic tools but also mechanisms for solidarity and social transformation, offering new insights into the role of economic infrastructures in shaping collective action and sustainability transitions.
Bazzani has been awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF) by the European Union and a DAAD one-year research grant. He has conducted research as a visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (Cologne) and Trier University.
At the University of Florence, he teaches Sociology, Sociological Theory, and Agency, Cooperation, and Global Challenges. He earned a PhD in Social and Political Change from the University of Turin.
As Principal Investigator of the Prosocial Motivations for Climate Mitigation Behaviors (PROSOCIAL-CLIMA) project, Bazzani leads a collaboration between the University of Florence, University of Pavia, and University of Naples Federico II, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (€263,890, P2022LWTSJ).
Current positionFrom 2025 is a Associate Professor of Sociology at University of Florence (IT), Department of Political and Social Sciences, where he teaches ‘Sociology’, ‘Sociological Theory’, and ‘Agency, Cooperation, and Global Challenges’. Current roles include serving as the Principal Investigator for the “Prosocial Motivations for Climate Mitigation Behaviors” (PROSOCIAL-CLIMA) project. This collaborative project, funded with a grant of 263,890 euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (P2022LWTSJ), involves the University of Florence, University of Pavia, and University of Naples Federico II.
Previous positions2022 - 2025 Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of Florence (IT), Department of Political and Social Sciences.2022 - 2023 Senior researcher of the research project “Economic Uncertainty and Fertility in Europe” EU-FER, research grant funded by European Research Council (ERC).2020 - 2022 Post-doc position at University of Florence (IT), Department of Social and Political Sciences (DSPS), Research Fellow of the research project “Sociological explanatory models of action under uncertain conditions”, research grant funded by MIUR-FARE grant, P.I. Daniele Vignoli.2018 - 2020 Post-doc position at University of Florence (IT), Department of Statistics, Informatics, Applications (DISIA), Research Fellow of the research project “Economic Uncertainty and Fertility in Europe” EU-FER, research grant funded by European Research Council (ERC) DLV-725961, P.I. Daniele Vignoli.2019 Visiting researcher at the Bobst Library, New York University2018 - 2018 DAAD fellow and visiting research at Trier University (DE).2017 - 2018 DAAD fellow and visiting research at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (Cologne, DE).2015 - 2018 PhD program in Political and Social Change at the University of Turin (IT), PhD research project: “Why use a complementary currency? The social and economic effects of Sardex”. Supervisor Prof. Carlo Trigilia.
Fellowships and awards2025 The article “Climate Solidarity: A Framework and Research Agenda for Low-Carbon Behavior”, published in Sociological Forum, was recognized among the top 10% most-read articles published in 2023. 2025 The article “Climate Solidarity: A Framework and Research Agenda for Low-Carbon Behavior”, published in Sociological Forum, was recognized as one of the top 10 most-cited articles published in 2023. 2025 The article “Narratives of the future and fertility decision-making in uncertain times. An application to the COVID-19 pandemic”, published in Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, is top cited article among works published in the 2022.2024 Research and Innovation – Competitive call by the Fondazione Caript for the project "Global Challenges, Local Responses: Paving the Way for Low-Carbon Living in Pistoia" (24,800 euros). 2023 Ministry of University and Research - National Recovery and Resilience Plan PRIN project “Prosocial Motivations for Climate Mitigation Behaviors” (PROSOCIAL-CLIMA) (263,890 euros, P2022LWTSJ), involves the University of Florence, University of Pavia, and University of Naples Federico II.2022 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF) by the European Union2017 Deutscher Akademischer Austaschdienst (DAAD) one-year research grant2016 European Sociological Association (ESA) RN09 Midterm conference, Universidad Carlos III, Madrid (SP).2016 Network for the Advancement of Social and Political Studies (NASP), Università di Genova (IT).2016 European Sociological Association (ESA) Summer School, New University of Lisbon- CICS.NOVA/ Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (PT). 2016 University of SciencesPo Aix, (FR) 11ème Ecole d'Ete Des Etudes Euromediterraneennes du Cherpa - Conférence thématique.
Major research interests address:
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