“LaRes” aims to establish the applicant as an international expert and leader on the theory of socio-ecological conflicts in European societies and its application to the environmental governance of hazards and waste. Training will consist of attendance at selected courses and seminars, tutoring and joint research work with the originator of the theory “environmentalism of the poor”, Prof. J. Martinez Alier, at ICTA. During the fellowship the researcher will work on improving the theory of environmental justice and using as a case study the struggle over garbage in contemporary Naples will develop a model for the analysis of complex conflicting situations in Europe. The applicant will examine the policy implications of his research and linked them to on-going debates on EU environmental governance, with special focus on waste disposal and the location of hazards. The project will contribute to introduce/reinforce environmental history and political ecology into European research, aiming to develop a network of scholars on ecological conflicts and environmental governance studies, thus promoting scientific excellence in the European Research Area.