CSSI – Centre for the Study of Popular Insurgencies
Historical research, European memory and digital innovation
Intro section
CSSI was established with the aim of reconstructing, preserving and transmitting the historical memory of European popular insurgencies between 1790 and 1815, giving voice to territories, communities and historical actors often marginalised in mainstream historiography.
Through research activities, publications, conferences, cultural events and outreach initiatives already carried out at the local level, the Centre combines direct experience in historical research with a contemporary vision of cultural heritage enhancement.
The use of advanced digital technologies and artificial intelligence further enables the collection, organisation and interconnection of fragmented archives, local sources and dispersed documents, transforming them into a shared European platform for research, memory and consultation.
Introduction
CSSI – Centre for the Study of Popular Insurgencies was founded to promote the study, research and historical enhancement of popular insurgencies that developed across Europe between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
The Centre’s activities are situated within the broader context of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the political, social and religious transformations that affected the European continent during a decisive phase of its history.
Mission
CSSI aims to contribute to a coherent, well-documented and academically grounded interpretation of the European insurgent phenomenon through:
- historical research and thematic analysis
- collection and enhancement of sources and documents
- development of scholarly and outreach tools
- promotion of networks for research and cultural collaboration
Areas of Study
The Centre’s research focuses in particular on:
- the French Revolution and its European impact
- the Napoleonic Wars and the broader geopolitical context
- popular insurgencies in France, Italy, Spain, Tyrol and other European regions
- the relationship between religion, territory, political legitimacy and popular resistance
- historical, memorial and archival sources related to the period
Project Vision
CSSI also promotes the development of a European Digital Archive of Popular Insurgencies, conceived as a platform for the collection, organisation and consultation of historical materials, events, key figures, sources and territorial contexts.
This perspective brings together historical research, cultural enhancement and digital tools, with the aim of building over time a structured and accessible documentary base, open to dialogue with scholars, cultural institutions and public bodies.
Collaboration
CSSI welcomes collaboration with:
- scholars and researchers
- cultural associations
- universities
- archives, libraries and research institutes
- public institutions and organisations engaged in the enhancement of European historical heritage
Objectives
CSSI aims to contribute to the construction of a shared European historical memory, grounded in a rigorous, well-documented approach and open to scholarly debate.
The objective is to develop, over time, an integrated system of research and cultural enhancement connecting sources, territories and historical contexts, making accessible and interpretable a heritage that remains fragmented at the European level.
In this perspective, the Centre positions itself as a cultural and project-oriented platform capable of combining historical research, European scope and digital innovation.
Scientific Director: Alberto Ferretti
Promoted by: Borgo dei Leoni APS – Ferrara
Scope: historical research and cultural heritage enhancement