Laura joined King’s in October 2021. She holds a MA in International Journalism from Brunel University London and a MA in Gender Studies from University College Dublin (UCD); a Double BA degree in History from Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7) and in German Studies from Université La Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris 3).

Office hours

Thursday: 15.00 - 17.00

Research interests

Far-right parties, elitism, gender, sexuality, immigration, religion, discourse analysis, social media analysis, comparative politics, western Europe

Teaching

• 5AAOB213 The Modern French State
• 4AAOB114 French Political Thought

Doctoral research

Laura’s doctoral research focuses on exploring the paradox of elitism in radical right populist parties in France, Germany, and Italy, linked to gender-related issues, using feminist critical discourse analysis.  

PhD supervisors

Dr Anna Gwiazda and Dr Isabelle Hertner 

Latest publications

• Montecchio, L. (2025). A gendered perspective on Italy’s surrogacy ban: legal, political and social implications, European Journal of Gender and Politics. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1332/25151088Y2025D000000096
• Montecchio, L. (2024). Italy’s Populist Radical Right and Anti-Gender Discourses: Lega, FdI and the Zan Bill, The International Spectator. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2024.2386288
• Montecchio, L. (2024). Book Review: The Politics of Memory in the Italian Populist Radical Right, Political Studies Review. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14789299241228090

Book chapters

• Griffini, G. & Montecchio, L. (2024). Populismo e Questioni di Genere in Le Pen e Meloni in Capire il Populismo (eds. Zullianello & P. Guasti) – translation to English in progress.