Comenius Project Highlight: Gavin Cascino '28

The Comenius Independent Study Program offers Merle-Smith Campus sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to pursue their interests through self-directed research and creative work, showcasing critical thinking, curiosity, and a passion for learning within the Moravian Academy community.

In his Comenius Project, Gavin Cascino ’28 explored the factors that contributed to the rise of authoritarian regimes in smaller European countries during the inter-war period. His research examined Poland, Turkey, and Portugal, focusing on how economic instability, inflation, and unstable democratic governments created conditions that enabled authoritarian rule.

He also compared these regimes with broader authoritarian movements of the era, analyzing both shared characteristics and efforts to distinguish themselves from more extreme models. Through this analysis, he investigated how economic and political crises shaped governance and political change across Europe during this period.

Through thoughtful research and analysis, Gavin’s project provides an insightful exploration of how economic and political instability can influence the rise of authoritarian movements.