I had the pleasure to be the discussant of an online session by Mary Kaldor (London School of Economics) on “Human Security in a Time of Covid-19”, organized by CIDOB. Professor Kaldor discussed whether the existential threat posed by the pandemic is opening up the possibility for the kind of social and political transformation that earlier occurred in major wars. In particular, whether it could … Continue reading Online Session with Mary Kaldor

Our publisher Springer has informed us that our book “European Union Contested: Foreign Policy in a New Global Context” is among the top used publications on SpringerLink that concern one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our book is one of the most downloaded publications in the area SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).   Continue reading Book Under Springer’s Most Downloaded Publications

With Clara Portela (European Union Institute for Security Studies), I have co-edited a special issue of the Spanish-language journal Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals on the “other” effects of sanctions. Extensive academic research has looked at sanctions from the perspective of those imposing them. Less attention has been given to other impacts, for example, on their targets, on the domestic policies of the sanctioners and on … Continue reading Special Issue on Sanctions Published

I have been awarded a Juan de la Cierva incorporation grant for work contracts from the Spanish State Agency for Research. The funding program finances the recruitment of young researchers for a period of three years. Furthermore, the recipients receive a lump sum to cover research expenses. During the three years the recipients can strengthen the skills they have acquired in their previous postdoctoral training … Continue reading Juan de la Cierva Incorporation Grant Awarded

I have been appointed as a Subject Matter Expert at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). HCSS was established in 2007 as an independent think tank. The founder Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk started this organization with a small team of senior experts and analysts, being drawn in from organizations such as the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), RAND, Clingendael, the Dutch … Continue reading Subject Matter Expert at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

Due to the Covid-19 health crisis and the resulting state of alarm in Spain with a nationwide lockdown, IBEI’s offices have been closed for the foreseeable future. This means that faculty and staff are working from home at the moment. To show that this doesn’t mean that our work has stopped, IBEI launched the campaign #IBEIatHome. Faculty, staff and students alike have sent pictures from home … Continue reading #IBEIatHome

A research project of which I am Principal Investigador (“Green, but Mean? The Relationship Between Ecologically Motivated Land Investments and Conflict in the Global South” (GREEN-MEAN)) has received funding from the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP). Numerous academic studies have linked land scarcity to an increased likelihood of violent conflicts in the Global South. Some of the most cited motives for land scarcity are … Continue reading Grant Received for Research on “Green Grabbing”

As a late result of my project GLONEXACO my brief policy paper “First, do no harm: five questions the EU needs to keep in mind for a sensitive approach to conflict resources” was published in the series CIDOB Notes Internacionals. This online publication addresses current world events with expert analyses that are oriented towards policy. My paper addresses the issue of measures against so-called conflict resources. … Continue reading Policy Paper on Conflict Resources Published

The edited volume “European Union Contested Foreign Policy in a New Global Context” (Heidelberg & New York: Springer), which I have edited with Elisabeth Johansson-Nogués and Esther Barbé is online available for purchase. The European Union’s foreign policy and its international role are increasingly being contested both globally and at home. At the global level, a growing number of states are now challenging the Western-led liberal … Continue reading Edited Volume “EU Contested” Published

The article “Does international recognition matter? Support for unilateral secession in Catalonia and Scotland” (co-authored with Diego Muro and Guillem Vidal) was published online in Nations and Nationalism. We wanted to know how much do the prospects of international recognition of a possible new state affect the domestic support for secession. To answer this research question, we adopted a most similar systems design and conducted a Web‐based survey … Continue reading Article on the Influence of International Recognition on Secessionism Published