Leonardo Morlino is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at LUISS, Rome, Italy. He was President of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) (2009-2012). He is a specialist in comparative politics with expertise on Southern and Eastern Europe, Latin America and a focus on processes of democratization. He is the author of more than 30 books and 200 journal essays and book chapters published in 9 languages. 

Cecilia Emma Sottilotta is Assistant Professor of International Relations and Global Politics at the American University of Rome (AUR), Italy. Her research interests focus on political risk for foreign investors, South European and Latin American politics. She is the author of Political Risk: Concepts, Theories, Challenges.