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AsiaLAB

The Asian Laboratory (AsiaLAB) Research Unit of the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS) at LUISS Guido Carli University is a research observatory focused on the study about political, social, economic and cultural developments in Asian societies, bilateral relations of East Asian states with one another, trilateral and regional arrangements in Asia, the Asian region in the context of the changing geo-political landscape globally, as well as relations between East Asia and Europe, and with Italy in particular. One particular focus of the observatory is on the connectivity agenda between East Asia and Europe, taking into account important developments such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the EU Connectivity Strategy, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Transatlantic Relations in the age of Global China and other such initiatives. These developments, occurring in the context of a wider global realignment challenging multilateral institutions and global governance, make it important to study the sustainability of connections between Europe and Asia. The work of the Asian Laboratory is dedicated to expanding understanding of international affairs and it aims to contribute to debates about the strategic, economic, societal and culture value of Euro-Asia connectivity, about the sustainability of related policies and infrastructures, and about the governance arrangements of related institutions. The research unit collaborates with various governments and embassies, foundations and academic institutions, to share knowledge and insights and to develop new approaches and strategic analysis to address emerging challenges and opportunities with regards to the Asian region.

Head of Unit

Silvia Menegazzi

Silvia Menegazzi is Head of the AsiaLAB Research Unit and Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Luiss Guido Carli University, where she teaches International Relations and Asian Studies. Her research interests span International Relations, Global Governance, and Area Studies, with a particular focus on the politics and economic development of Asian countries, especially China, Japan, and South Korea.

She has held visiting scholar positions at Sciences Po (Paris), George Washington University (Washington, DC), the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at the University of Warwick, and China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) in Beijing. Dr. Menegazzi has been the recipient of research grants and scholarships from several European and Asian institutions.

She lived in China for more than four years and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Her work has been published in academic journals and media outlets, including International Politics, Global Society, Asia Europe Journal, East Asia Forum, and China Files. Among her most recent publications are China’s Blueprint for Global Leadership: GSI, GDI, GCI and Xi Jinping’s Vision for the International Order (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025, with M. Dian); La Cina e la politica globale (Mondadori, 2023); The NATO–South Korea strategic alignment and contemporary order-building, (International Politics, 2026, with T. Novotna).

Researcher

Youngah Guahk

Youngah Guahk joined the Department of Business and Management (DIM) at Luiss University as a Lecturer in September 2020. She has a study background, with Masters degrees from Stenden University in the Netherlands and Birkbeck College, University of London, in UK. She received her PhD in Political Science from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. In her doctoral research, Dr Guahk has focused on urban governance and sustainable development in East Asia, with particular focus on the politics and policymaking regarding smart city projects in South Korea. Dr Guahk has been involved in various research projects and has published on different aspects of Korean current affairs, including chapters on the administration of the Korean National Assembly and the role of culture in Korea’s public diplomacy.