Dr Simona Vittorini

Dr Simona Vittorini is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies where she lectures undergraduate and postgraduate courses on the comparative politics of Asia and Africa. 

She specialises in South Asian politics and the main focus of her work is on postcolonial nationalism, processes of construction of collective identities and performative and symbolic politics. Simona’s book, Rituals, Symbols and Politics of Indian Nationalism was published in 2009 and she is the author of other articles and book chapters on post-independence nation-building and symbolic politics in India 

Simona’s current research also focuses on India as an emerging power. With David Harris, she has co-authored a number of chapters and articles on India’s expanding presence in Africa and South-South Development Cooperation. 

Previously Simona also lectured at Birkbeck College, London Metropolitan University and at the University of Milan-Bicocca.

Simona Vittorini’s research is focused on South Asian politics with special reference to India. 

Her areas of interest include: comparative politics of South Asia; performative and symbolic politics; theories of nationalism and identity formation; India domestic politics; Hindu nationalism; India-Africa relations and South-South Development cooperation. 

Simona regularly works as a consultant. Clients included: UKTI, Zurich Insurance, CMS Cameron McKenna, the Swedish Ambassador to India and the Swedish Special Envoy to Afghanistan, UNICEF Country Representative to India, the NATO Parliamentary Subcommittee South Asia. 

She also provides commentary on contemporary political developments in India to national broadcast media in the UK and Italy (Financial Times, BBC, NBC News, Channel 4, Islam Channel TV, Voice of America (VOA) Aaj Tak, Radio Popolare (Italy)).

She received her PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies