The Department of Social and Political Sciences was established in 1983 by joining the Institutes of Sociology (Faculty of Economics), of History of Political Doctrines and Institutions, of International Political and Historical Studies, of History and Institutions of African and Asian Countries, of Social and Political Studies (Faculty of Political Science). The department is divided into the following sections: Political Sciences, Sociology, History of Political Doctrines and Institutions, African and Asian Studies, Historical Studies, International Politics. From 1983 to 1986 the Head of the Department was Prof. Paolo Beonio-Brocchieri, who was followed by Prof. Alessandro Cavalli, Prof. Giacomo Sani, Prof. Antonio Mutti. The current head is Prof. Gian Paolo Calchi Novati. The Department is linked to the following Doctoral Programs: Oriental Studies (Civilizations of Far-East Asia), African History, Political Sciences, Analitical Philosophy and General Theory of Law, Sociology.