School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies

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Irish School of Ecumenics,
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Trinity College Dublin

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Dr. Carlo Aldrovandi

Dr. Carlo Aldrovandi

Assistant Professor, School of Religion

3531896 4783

Biography

Dr Carlo Aldrovandi is an Assistant Professor of Religions, Peace, and Conflict at Trinity College Dublin, where he coordinates the MPhil program in International Peace Studies. He teaches interdisciplinary courses focused on the Middle East peace processes, negotiation, conflict resolution, and the role of religion in international relations. Prior to his appointment at Trinity College, he worked at the Department of Politics, Languages, and International Studies at Bath University, as well as the Peace Studies Department at Bradford University.

Dr Aldrovandi's research focuses on the national-religious worldviews of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider Middle East. His book, `Apocalyptic Movements in Contemporary Politics: Christian and Jewish Zionism" (published by Palgrave in 2014), explores the messianic motivations behind the settlement project in the Palestinian Territories. The book also discusses the impact of US Evangelical Zionism on the Middle East conflict and the interfaith relationships between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Dr Aldrovandi has received funding from multiple sources, including the Irish Research Council. Over the past decade, he has conducted extensive field research on the Al Aqsa and Temple Mount dispute. His work examines the Islamic and Jewish worldviews that contribute to the national-religious struggle for exclusive ownership of this shrine in the Old City of Jerusalem, which also impacts peace negotiations and regional stability. This research will inform Dr Aldrovandi's second monograph, set to be published at the end of 2025.

Dr Aldrovandi is a senior academic advisor and facilitator for the Holy Lands Project at the Herbert C. Kelman Institute for Interactive Conflict Transformation in Vienna. The project brings together politically influential Israelis and Palestinians who represent a variety of perspectives, including secular, conservative Jewish, and conservative Islamic views. The objective is to engage in research, dialogue, and collaborative efforts that address and transform the complex national-religious issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the management of contested shrines and sacred spaces.

Dr Aldrovandi regularly comments on Middle East politics and religious affairs for The Conversation UK, ABC News Australia, Virgin News, and others. He received the Trinity Excellence in Research Supervision Award in 2022 and was nominated for the Provost's Teaching Award the following year. Dr Aldrovandi has supervised several doctoral projects in his research areas, and some of his PhD students have secured prestigious postgraduate fellowships, including the Ussher Scholarship and the Government of Ireland Award.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • 'The Myth of Apocalyptic Violence: Secular Perspectives on a Religious Idea' in, Mining Truths: Festschrift in Honour of Geraldine Smyth OP , Germany, 2015, pp155 - 183, [C. Higgins, J. L. Fernando and J. O'Grady]Book Chapter, 2015
  • 'Ethical Framework for a Disaster Management Decision Support System which Harvests Social Media Data on a Large Scale' in, editor(s)N. Bellamine Ben Saoud , Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management in Mediterranean Countries, 2015, [Carlo Aldrovandi, Damian Jackson & Paul Haynes]Book Chapter
  • Carlo Aldrovandi , Theo-politics in the Holy Land: Christian Zionism and Jewish Religious Zionism', Religion Compass, 2011Journal Article, 2011, DOI
  • Carlo Aldrovandi, Sacred Places & Diplomacy: A Post-Secular Approach to the Struggle for Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif (Forthcoming), Routledge, 2026Book, 2026
  • Overcoming Biases in Mainstream Diplomatic Negotiations: Insights from Israel, Pakistan and Other Non-Western Contexts in, editor(s)Sapir Handelman , The Middle East Peace Challenge - Peacemaking, Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping, Springer, 2026, [Carlo Aldrovandi & Ofer Zalzberg]Book Chapter, 2026
  • Carlo Aldrovandi, 'Apocalyptic Movements in International Politics: Christian and Jewish Zionism'. , Palgrave McMillian , 2014, 272ppBook, 2014
  • Engaging Religiously Conservative Clerics and their Sacred Values & Worldviews in, editor(s)Emanuel Schaeublin , Mediating Conflicts between Groups with Different Worldviews: Approaches & Methods, Zurich, Center for Security Studies (CSS) | ETH Zurich, 2021, [Carlo Aldrovandi ]Book Chapter

Research Expertise

  • Title
    TCD Research Incentive Scheme 2014-15 (€3,170)
    Summary
    In June 2014, I was awarded the Research Incentive Scheme 2014-15 by the Trinity Long Room Hub (TLRH), the Arts and Humanities Research Institute at TCD. The grant supported the project 'A Post-Secular Engagement with Religious Zionism and its Sacred Values'. Between September and November 2015, I carried out field research in contested areas of the Old City, East Jerusalem, Hebron, Qiryat Arba, Jenin, Nablus, Gush Etzion, Tekoa, etc. where I conducted interviews with key representatives of Religious Zionist communities, grassroots organizations and political parties.
    Funding Agency
    Trinity Long Room Hub
  • Title
    TCD Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Research Scheme (€2,850).
    Summary
    In January 2016, I secured further funding from the TCD Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Research Scheme (€2,850). The grant assisted the preliminary stages of a new interdisciplinary project which investigates, through a post-secular lens, the overlapping between theological, nationalist and political drives at the basis of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle for the Temple Mount /Haram al-Sharif. Between September and November 2016, I interviewed members of the al-Waqf, the Northern and Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, the Third Temple Movement, the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation and other national-religious organizations advocating for a 'Jewish right' to pray within the Holy Esplanade.
  • Title
    Irish Research Council (IRC) 'New Horizons Starter Scheme' (€37,000)
    Summary
    In November 2015, I secured the Irish Research Council (IRC) 'New Horizons Starter Scheme' (€37,000), a prestigious grant which was awarded to only seven applicants in the whole of Ireland in 2015, two within Trinity College. The grant assisted further and more systematic field research in spring and summer 2016 and also funded a set of networking & knowledge exchange events in Israel, Palestine and Dublin.
  • Title
    TRiSS Academic Research Projects Scheme 2016/17 (€2,000)
    Summary
    In May 2017, I was awarded the TRiSS Academic Research Projects Scheme 2016/17 (€2,000), which funded primary research in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Holy Month of Ramadan, with the aim of gathering data in relation to the religious-political activities at grassroots level within the Haram al-Sharif.
  • Title
    *The Impact of Social Media in Emergencies - European Union Capability Project (2014-2017)
    Summary
    Between April 2014 and June 2015, I was actively involved in the EU FP7 project 'Slándáil: The Impact of Social Media in Emergencies'. As work package leader of the 'society and ethics' subject-area, I was responsible for an overall budget of €157,071. In September 2014, I recruited a PhD student and a post-doctoral fellow who have been contributing to this research project under my direct supervision. Between September 2014 and February 2015, I developed and co-wrote the main deliverable of the work package, one that established the ethical framework for the entire Slándáil project.
    Funding Agency
    EU FP7 Framework
  • Title
    Irish Government Agency 'Enterprise Ireland' (€7,595)
    Summary

Recognition

  • Jan 2017 to present: Academic Consultant to Herbert KeIman Institute for Interactive Conflict Transformation, Vienna, Austria.