What drives people to risk everything—comfort, safety, even life—for a cause? And how do communities shape these decisions, for better or worse? These are the questions that animate the work of Professor Falciola, a scholar whose research into protest movements, radicalization, and political violence offers timely insights into the forces that shape collective action across history and geography.
A faculty member at the Colin Powell School at City College, Falciola brings both intellectual rigor and deep curiosity to the classroom, helping students critically engage with the complexities of political mobilization in democratic societies.
A Lifelong Fascination with Protest and Political Conviction
“I have always been fascinated by people’s choice to participate in protest movements—overcoming self-interest, dispelling fear, and fighting for change,” Professor Falciola shares. “At the same time, the stark reality that people hurt, kill, and die in the name of political ideals, including those of progress, has long troubled me.”
This tension—between noble conviction and dangerous extremism—sparked a lifelong academic journey. Born and raised in Milan, a city deeply marked by political radicalism and violence in the 20th century, Falciola was surrounded by the legacies of fascism, anarchism, and socialism. Milan became both a subject and a symbol of the enduring questions that would guide his career.
“Milan itself has never stopped questioning me,” he says. His academic path led him from Italy to France and eventually to the United States, each step deepening his exploration of political history and collective action.
Researching Radical Politics: A Relational Approach
At the heart of Falciola’s research lies a powerful insight: protest and political radicalization are not just individual or ideological phenomena—they are profoundly relational.
“I have primarily examined how collective mobilization works, how activists radicalize, and how political violence gets justified or rejected,” he explains. Cold War-era Europe and the U.S. serve as a rich context for these investigations, revealing recurring patterns across vastly different movements. One especially compelling finding is the central role of surrounding communities—lawyers, lovers, families, informal networks—in shaping activists’ choices. “My case studies consistently show that radical politics is an utterly relational phenomenon, very sensitive to external pressures,” Falciola notes. “By contrast, focusing only on the main actors and their political organizations, as if they operated in a vacuum, can really miss the point.”
This relational lens not only enriches academic discourse but also opens space for broader conversations about how societies respond to dissent and change.
Teaching the Power—and Complexity—of Movements
Looking ahead, Falciola is focused on equipping students with the tools to think critically about the role of social movements in democratic life. At a time when public discourse is increasingly polarized and fragmented, he hopes to offer a more reflective, nuanced approach.
“My main goal at CCNY is to help students think critically about the role of social movements in democracy,” he says. “I wish to shift the conversation, at least for a while, away from the noise and partisanship of social media and into the more reflective space of academic inquiry.” For Falciola, this means emphasizing that movements are not inherently chaotic or polarizing—in fact, they can revitalize democracy and renew public engagement, particularly in times of fear or disillusionment.
Why the Colin Powell School Stands Out
Falciola has found a unique intellectual and communal home at the Colin Powell School.
“At the Colin Powell School, I have found a student cohort uniquely engaged and eager to learn, which makes teaching here genuinely energizing,” he says. “You get the sense of being part of an incubator of future policymakers—students who are both humble and full of drive.” It’s this blend of humility, ambition, and curiosity that makes the Colin Powell School a special place—one where meaningful inquiry meets real-world impact.
