School of Social and Political Science

Background

Salvatore Barillà is a PhD candidate in Politics and a Senior Tutor at the School of Social and Political Science of the University of Edinburgh. He obtained a combined Bachelor and master’s degree in Law at LUISS University (Rome) and a double master’s degree in European Studies at LUISS University and in International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University (Beijing). He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AdvanceHE). He has served as a reviewer for Oxford University Press (OUP). 

His current research investigates the EU and China in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement, focusing on the role of ideas in international trade. In particular, it investigates the role of economic and legalistic programmatic beliefs in the EU and China's trade officials' approaches to the WTO dispute settlement.

He worked as a legal intern in multiple law firms in different countries, and as an intern at the commercial office of the Italian Embassy in Belgium.

He is interested in International Political Economy, International Trade and Investment Law, and EU-China studies.

Supervisors

Professor Chad Damro

Dr Julia Calvert

Education

Master of Law (2018-2019), International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University (外交学院), Beijing, China (92,1%).

MSc International Relations (2017-2019), major in European Studies, LUISS University, Rome, Italy (110/110 cum laude).

Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico (combined bachelor and master's degree) (2012-2017), Law, major in International Law, LUISS University, Rome, Italy (110/110).

Erasmus+ (August 2014-December 2014), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Conferences and Presentations

Jean Monnet Workshop, The EU's Strategic Autonomy, Birkbeck College, University of London, 3rd July 2023. Paper title: The role of ideas and the EU's strategic autonomy in trade. 

3rd Jean Monnet Chair Workshop, Research-based Teaching in Undergraduate Education: European Studies and Beyond, University of Southampton, 27th June 2023.

73rd PSA Annual International Conference, British and Comparative Political Economy SG: Brexit and International Trade Policy panel, PSA 2023, Liverpool, 3rd April 2023. Paper title: Ideas’ role in international trade: programmatic beliefs in the EU and China’s approaches to the WTO DSM. Discussant: Dr Valentina Ausserladscheider.

Chair and discussant on ISA 2023 Panel on 'International Law and International Political Economy', ISA 2023, 17th March 2023.

IPE Section / RIPE Pre-Conference Workshop (by invitation only - sponsored by Review of International Political Economy (RIPE), ISA 2023, Montreal, 14th March 2023. Paper title: Ideas in international trade dispute settlement: the EU and China’s Guiding Beliefs in the WTO DSM. Discussant: Professor Saori Katada. 

Discussant of Dr Tobias Wille and Dr Benjamin Martill's paper, International Relations Research Group, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, 7th November 2022. Paper title: Trust in the Process? A Processual Account of Declining Trust in the Brexit Negotiations.

EUFUTURES Research Network Launch Workshop - 'Understanding EU legal integration/disintegration: in search of new perspectives', City, University of London, 4th November 2022. Paper title: Ideas in International Trade: Programmatic beliefs in the EU and China's approaches to the WTO DSM. Moderated by Dr Rebecca Zahn. 

Early-Career Researcher Workshop - Multidisciplinary Research Methods in EU Law, Edinburgh Europa Institute, University of Edinburgh, 26th-27th May 2022. Paper title: Ideas in International Trade: Programmatic beliefs in the EU and China's approaches to the WTO DSM. Discussant: Professor Chad Damro. 

Panel on Academic Careers (part of the career sessions for the MSc International and European Politics), University of Edinburgh, 29th April 2022. Invited by Dr Benjamin Martill.

BISA International Political Economy Group (IPEG) workshop 2022: IPE in (Post-)Pandemic Times, University of Warwick [online], 27th-28th January 2022. Presentation title: Ideas in International Trade: Programmatic beliefs in the EU and China's approaches to the WTO DSM. Moderated by Professor Juanita Elias. 

Association for Asian Studies New England Regional Conference, Harvard University [online], 6th December 2021. Presentation title: Programmatic beliefs in the EU and China's approaches to the WTO DSM. Moderated by Professor Tyler Giannini. 

Discussant of Professor Alasdair Young's paper, International Relations Research Group, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh [online], 1st November 2021. Paper title: Supplying Compliance with Trade Rules: Explaining the EU’s Responses to Adverse WTO Rulings.

ECPR SGIR Summer School "International Relations in a Post-Hegemonic World", University of Antwerp [online], 12th July 2021. Paper title: The use of programmatic beliefs in EU-China trade disputes in the WTO DSM. Paper discussant: Dr Nana de Graaff. 

UACES Graduate Forum Conference 2021, 17th and 18th June 2021. Paper title: The use of programmatic beliefs in EU-China trade disputes in the WTO DSM. 

2020 CIBEL Global Network Young Scholars Workshop, University of New South Wales (UNSW) [online], 20th August 2020 (the conference was broadcasted by Sky News Australia, channel 604). Paper title: EU-China trade and investment relations and COVID-19: old struggles and new challenges. Moderated by Suresh Nanwani.

British Postgraduate Network for Chinese Studies (BPCS) Conference 2020 [online], 28th July 2020. Paper title: China-EU Trade disputes in the WTO.

PGR PIR Seminars, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, 13th March 2020. Paper title: EU-China Trade Disputes in the WTO: Drivers and Motivations.

UACES Graduate Forum Conference 2019, 8th and 9th July 2019. Paper title: EU-China relations: the impact of dispute settlement resolution mechanisms.

Publications

Peer reviewed:

Barillà, S.F.P. (2021). 'EU-China Trade and Investment Relations and Covid-19: Old Struggles or New Challenges?'. Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies, 13(2), 42-53. https://doi.org/10.30722/anzjes.vol13.iss2.15604. 

Barillà, S.F.P., and Pellicanò, A. (2020). 'The treatment of irregular migrants during COVID-19: A comparative analysis of Italian and Portuguese responses'. Public Policy Studies, 7(4(28), 123-138. https://doi.org/10.33119/KSzPP/2020.4.7.

Blog articles:

Barillà, S.F.P. (2021). 'The study of ideas in EU-China disputes in the WTO'. Crossroads Europe. [peer-reviewed]

Barillà, S.F.P. (2017). 'In the name of the EU, the European Council and the Member States'. Centro di Ricerca sulle Organizzazioni Internazionali ed Europee (CROIE) LUISS.

Teaching experience

Senior Tutor, International Political Economy, UG course, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2022/23, Sem. 1.

Tutor, Research Design, PG course, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2021/22, Sem. 2.

Tutor, Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates, UG course, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2021/22, Sem. 1. 

Tutor, International Political Economy, PG course, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2020/21, Sem. 2. 

Tutor, International Political Economy, UG Hons. course, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2020/21, Sem. 1.

Second Marker, Introduction to Systematic Reviews, PG course, Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, A.Y. 2019/20, Sem. 1.

Guest lecturer, East Asian Cooperation Studies, UG course, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China, 30th May 2019.

Work experience

Research Assistant to Dr Julia Calvert, March 2021 -July 2021.

PhD as Change agents, Consultancy project for IPPR Scotland. Consultancy title: How can we involve communities in inclusive growth post Covid-19?, University of Edinburgh, UK, May 2021-June 2021.

Research experience at the Italian Embassy in China (Master's thesis cosupervised by the Embassy), Beijing, China, January 2019-July 2019.

Intern, Italian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, September 2016-December 2016. 

Legal intern, FCB Castelo Branco, Lisbon, Portugal, July 2016.

Legal intern, Chiriţă şi asociaţii, Cluj Napoca, Romania, July 2015.

Legal intern, SG&CO PRC LAWYERS, Shanghai, China, July 2014. 

Other courses and projects

Reviewer for Oxford University Press. 

Introduction to Academic Practice (accredited to the Higher Education Academy for Associate Fellowship), Institute for Academic Development, Sep 2021 - Dec 2021. 

ECPR SGIR Summer School "International Relations in a Post-Hegemonic World", University of Antwerp (Online), 12th-15th July 2021. 

ECPR Summer School “Democratic Innovations in Europe and in the EU”, Université Saint-Louis de Bruxelles, Université Catholique de Louvain & the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium, 26th-30th August 2019. 

Summer School "European Company Law", London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK, August 2016.

Summer School "Human Rights and Globalization", the European Law Students Association (ELSA), Zadar, Croatia, 21st-28th July 2013.

Awards and grants

ISA-RIPE travel grant, Mar. 2023. 

SPS Edinburgh PGR Research Support Fund, Apr. 2023.

SPS Edinburgh Award for Researcher Development and Academic Practice, University of Edinburgh, UK, 2020-2022.

EUFUTURES Research Network Travel Grant, Nov. 2022.

UACES Graduate Forum Conference 2021 Research Funding for Delegates. 

SPS Edinburgh Award, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, 2019-2020. 

UACES Graduate Forum Conference 2019 grant.

LUISS Scholarship for International mobility, a.y. 2018/19.

International Students Scholarship for China Foreign Affairs University – Social Activity Award for International Students, 12/2018.

Scholarship for conducting research abroad – LUISS Guido Carli, 01/06/2017.

Erasmus+ Scholarship, a.y. 2014/15.

Memberships

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Advance HE.

Expert, Inclusive Policy Lab, UNESCO. 

British International Studies Association (BISA). 

The academic association for contemporary European Studies (UACES).

Italian Political Science Association (SISP).

Society of International Economic Law (SIEL)

Languages

English: fluent

Italian: native

French: advanced (DELF B2)

Spanish: intermediate (DELE B1)

Chinese (Mandarin): intermediate (HSK 3)

Norwegian: basic