Luciano Mecacci (born November 27, 1946)[1] is an Italian psychologist and author, formerly Professor at the University of Florence, best known for his contributions to history of psychology in Italy, and as an influential early disseminator of works and ideas of Lev Vygotsky in the West.
[2] His main works regard the psychophysiological correlates of cognitive processes, and the history of psychology, especially Russian.
[6][7] His work as an intermediary between Russia and Western Europe has been an important influence on the reception of Vygotsky's ideas in the West during the Cold War.
In 2014, he won the Viareggio Prize in the non-fiction category for his book La Ghirlanda fiorentina, about the final days of the Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile (assassinated in 1944).
[14] Mecacci is a member of the Academia Europaea[2] and of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Russian and East European Psychology,[15] and Culture and Education.