Massimo Introvigne Italian sociologist of religion and lawyer Date of Birth: 14.06.1955 Country: Italy

1. Massimiliano Introvigne
2. Early Life and Education
3. Academic Career
4. Research Interests and Publications
5. Center for Study on New Religions (CESNUR)
6. Legal Practice and Intellectual Property
7. Public and Civic Engagement
8. Personal Life

Massimiliano Introvigne

Massimiliano Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religion and lawyer who is known for his work in the field of new religious movements (NRMs).

Early Life and Education

Introvigne was born in Rome, Italy, on May 16, 1955. He attended the Jesuit school Istituto Sociale before completing his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a laurea in philosophy summa cum laude. Subsequently, he obtained a second laurea in law with honors from the University of Turin in 1979. His dissertation on the philosophy of law, "I due principi di giustizia nella teoria di Rawls," was later published as a monograph.

Academic Career

From 1979 to 1985, Introvigne held a professorship in the Department of Philosophy of Law at the University of Turin. He has also taught sociology and history of religious movements at various Italian and international universities, including the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, the Pontifical University of the Queen of Apostles, and the European University in Rome.

Research Interests and Publications

Introvigne's research interests span general philosophy and sociology of law, political science, and the study of religious minorities and NRMs. He has authored over 40 books and written numerous articles in international peer-reviewed journals on these topics. Introvigne is known for his academic dictionary and reference work "Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia" (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy), which was published in 2001 and has since seen a revised second edition in 2006.

Center for Study on New Religions (CESNUR)

Introvigne is the founding director of CESNUR, an international research network of scholars specializing in the study of NRMs. Through CESNUR, he has organized numerous conferences and projects dedicated to the study of religious minorities and their interactions with society.

Legal Practice and Intellectual Property

Alongside his academic pursuits, Introvigne has also worked as a legal consultant for international companies. He became a partner at the law firm Jacobacci & Partners in 1986, specializing in intellectual property rights and competition law. His expertise in trademark protection and internet domain name litigation has led to his appointment as an international arbitrator for the World Intellectual Property Organization and chairman of the Arbitration Board for Trademark and Domain Name Disputes of the UEFA European Football Championship.

Public and Civic Engagement

Introvigne is involved in various public and civic organizations. He is a former representative of the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office for Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination. He is also the vice-president of the "Turin-Europe" association and has participated in cultural preservation efforts through the cultural center "Terrazza Solferino." Additionally, he has served as a member of the Alliance Catholique since 1971.

Personal Life

Introvigne is married to Sylvia Scaranari Introvigne, an Islamic scholar and activist for the Alliance Catholique. They have four children.