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Letter From the President & the Director

Letter from the President and the Director

Narcís Serra & Jacint Jordana

The year 2022 has been a year of consolidation for IBEI, during which several large research projects were initiated, and the number of master’s students has significantly increased, particularly compared to a few years ago. Currently, IBEI has two Erasmus Mundus programmes running, which have also played a crucial role in the Institute’s institutional consolidation. Additionally, IBEI has been continuously building extensive scholarly networks in Europe and beyond. 


However, IBEI is not just about numbers; over the years, it has evolved into a dynamic community with diverse voices. Within this vibrant community, we foster a culture of rich and intricate conversations, nurturing shared discourses and mutual understanding on pressing issues within the realm of international affairs.


The persistence of war in Europe, a growing world polarization and regionalization, or the multiple challenges of international security and development are highly debated topics. Pursuing the master’s programmes at IBEI has given students the opportunity to contrast these issues from different perspectives and values with fellow students and teaching staff from around the world. In this sense, we encourage diverse interactions at IBEI concerning current world challenges and the nuances of addressing international politics and globalization challenges. These interactions will substantially support and enrich students’ professional careers in the future.

Promoting excellent research lies at the core of IBEI’s aims, and 2022 has witnessed a significant expansion of research productivity, with an increase in the number and quality of articles and books published by IBEI researchers. We anticipate this trend to continue in the coming years, enabling our researchers to gain broader visibility and take a leading role in significant research topics. Moreover, we aim to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to policymakers and concerned citizens more generally. Consequently, we expect IBEI faculty to be even more engaged in global conversations and to make relevant contributions that enhance the understanding of global governance, security, and development.


IBEI’s internal diversity, focusing on relevant problems cutting across different academic disciplines while maintaining connections with a large number of international scholarly and professional networks, will likely contribute positively to achieving this purpose.

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Jacint Jordana
IBEI Director
Narcís Serra
IBEI President
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Graduate Programmes

A community of just over 300 students,
in which there is a real possibility to forge lasting friendships and professional contacts.

Master’s in International Development

Master’s in International
Relations

Master’s in
International
Security

Research Master’s
in International
Studies

Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Public Policy (Mundus MAPP)

Erasmus Mundus
Master in International
Law of Global Security,
Peace and Development (ILGSPD)

The Master’s degrees are accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education
and are awarded by renowned Barcelona universities:

IBEI Master’s students celebrate
the Graduation Ceremony 2022

On June 27, 2022, IBEI held the graduation ceremony of its Master’s
at the Paranimf of the Universitat de Barcelona.

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Quique Bassat, ICREA Research Professor and Head of the Malaria
Programme of ISGLobal, served as the keynote speaker, focusing on
global health, inequalities and how to fight them.

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After the lecture, Laura Chaqués Bonafont, Professor of Political
Science at UB and Senior Research Associate at IBEI, congratulated
the students on behalf of the faculty and encouraged them in their
promising futures after their studies at IBEI.

 

IBEI students Shivam Shammit Ghai, Ángel Manuel Almendros
Salerno
& Mercédesz Mária Lajos (Master’s in International Relations) emphasized the need for their classmates to become the change they
want to see in the world.

 

Ambiorix Feliz Brito, IBEI Alumni Barcelona Chapter Lead, addressed
the future graduates, stressing the relevance of the synergies and opportunities between our alumni & our recent graduates: “IBEI will always be your home,
you will always be welcome here”.

Summary video

Graduate Programmes
Other Programmes
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Other Programmes

4

Summer
Schools

10

Courses

Barcelona Summer School in Global
Politics, Development and Security

76

Participants

With the support of:

106

Registrations

Format

hybrid & online

Combining a graduate school
and research institute, IBEI unites research,
education, and policy engagement.

3

Online
programmes

Jointly offered by IBEI and Universitat
Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Specialization Course
New Challenges of
Global Governance

Specialization Course
International Relations, Geopolitics and Global Governance

Postgraduate Diploma in
Geopolitics and Global
Governance

3

Executive
programmes

Las políticas urbanas y metropolitanas en el ámbito global

Jointly organized with Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona and UN-Habitat

 4 - 7 July 2022 

Alumni
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Alumni

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Annika Gostowski

Master’s in International Relations 2012-2013

​

Gender Equality and Private Sector Partnerships Specialist,
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office

Montevideo (Uruguay)

“Be patient and keep an open mind. Building a career in the field of international development or diplomacy is not easy. Take the opportunity to learn about different topics from the wide range of courses at IBEI and from fellow students from different backgrounds and world views. Doors may open in the most unexpected places and ways.”

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Bastian Koop

Master’s in International Relations 2020-2021

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Policy Officer, Directorate-General for
International Partnerships, European Commission

Brussels (Belgium)

“I greatly appreciate the time I spent studying at IBEI, especially the high level of flexibility to design the MIR program exactly according to your individual interest and thus optimally prepare for your future career path. Additionally, I was very happy to study alongside open-minded and intelligent fellow students, some of which have become very dear friends of mine.”

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Marija Obradovic

Master’s in International Security 2014-2015

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Head Legal Analyst, Tamarind Intelligence

Barcelona (Spain)

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Austin Ruckstuhl

Master’s in International Relations 2015-2016

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Messenger Policy Manager, Meta (formerly Facebook)

Remote (USA)

“My experience at IBEI was very positive. Professors are very knowledgeable, and the majority has good instruction skills and a way of keeping the lectures and discussions interesting. I enjoyed IBEI’s guest lectures and discussions on their respective papers. I miss the interesting daily conversations and debates in classes. The world has changed since 2014, and often I wish to be a fly on the wall in IBEI classrooms and hear the contemporary exchanges. The admission office and student coordinators were always extremely nice and helpful.”

“The program taught me how to think through formal theoretical approaches and conduct rigorous research, which I still use today. I also learned how to think deeply about complex issues while considering diverse perspectives. It also opened doors for me that I had previously not been able to access. The year before IBEI, I was managing a restaurant in Los Angeles. Now I work on one of the largest Tech Policy teams in the world.”

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Diego Redondo Cripovich

Master’s in International Relations 2017-2018

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Legal Officer, International Organization for Migration

Erbil (Iraq)

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Susana Gonzalez Ruiz

Master’s in International Relations 2004-2005

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Director of Knowledge & Foresight, AMEC
Barcelona (Spain)

“The Master programme gave me the opportunity to learn how to think and express ideas in a structured and scientific manner; a skill much useful when designing, implementing, and reporting on humanitarian projects. Moreover, the support and freedom provided to me while conducting the final dissertation helped me further dig into human rights frameworks, specifically how LGBTQI+ rights and colonialism intersect. These frameworks have shaped the way I understand humanitarian work, institutions, and development.”

“After having studied Sociology, I realized that what really appealed to me was the difference among different cultures and societies. The IBEI Master’s in International Relations offered me a wide approach to this from economics, politics, culture, and law. Apart from learning all these different aspects of international relations, I’d like to highlight the experience of working with students from many other countries and learning from teachers who are experts in their respective fields.”

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Rebekah Quixano Henriques

Master’s in International Development 2020-2021

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Communications and Engagement Coordinator, Tzedek

London (UK)

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João Lobo

Master’s in International Relations 2008-2010

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Project Analyst, Union for the Mediterranean

Barcelona (Spain)

“The professors I had always seemed open to debate and appreciated input. They were demanding but also understanding. The support provided by my personal tutor(s) were exceptional. On the whole, they did their best to make their classes engaging and up-to-date. The courses I took gave me the vital knowledge needed to teach young people about topics of social justice. The capacity approach, Colonialism, Development models, writing proposal forms, migration, poverty, sustainability, governance and GDP are now all topics I can confidently discuss.”

“At 40 years old I arrived at Barcelona wanting to make a radical change in my personal and professional career. I was looking for a wide-open programme. Since I was a kid, I had been passionate about international relations. IBEI programme’s curriculum seemed fascinating, and the part time option looked perfect, as I had a part-time job at the time. It gave me a proper framework to work on international relations’ matters. Furthermore, courses such as those on Euro-Mediterranean Relations and European Policies, in particular, were very much related with what I am currently doing.”

Faculty & Research
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Faculty & Research

+80

16

12

Affiliated Faculty

Faculty & Research Visitors to IBEI

IBEI Researchers visiting other institutions

Training & Scientific events

42

Research Seminars

12

6

2

Lectures

Workshops

Workshops

Events during 2022

62

Events

48

International Speakers

25

Ongoing
Research Projects

Publications 2022

47

Papers published in high impact
peer-reviewed journals (Q1-Q2)

5

11

9

4

Papers published in other
peer-reviewed journals

Agency for Management
of Universities
and Research
Grants (AGAUR)

Spanish
Research
Agency
(AEI)

European
Commission

8

Books and monographs

7

Books chapters

International Academic Council

John Braithwaite

Australian National
University

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Christopher Hill

University of Cambridge

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Knud Erik Jørgensen

Aarhus University

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Mary Kaldor

London School of Economics and Political Science

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Stathis Kalyvas

University of Oxford

​

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Nico Krisch

The Geneva
Graduate Institute

​

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Patrick Le Galès

Sciences Po

​

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José Antonio Ocampo

Columbia University

​

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Karen Elisabeth Smith

London School of Economics

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Michael Zürn

Berlin Social Science Center (WZB). Freie University Berlin

Research Funding Sponsors

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About IBEI

Economic Data

Expenditure 2021-2022

Income 2021-2022

Total Number of Staff

Social Media, Web & Knowledge Transfer

Social Media

A unique voice in international studies
in Barcelona and one of the few
examples of successful inter-university
cooperation in Europe.

Institutional Development

Equality Plan 2022-2026

​

In 2022, IBEI approved the Equality Plan and the Protocol for 
the Prevention, Identification & Resolution of situations of sexual harassment and harassment based on sex, sexual orientation
and gender identity
.

​

IBEI has made a bold commitment to gender equality as one of the strategic principles of its institutional and human resources policy, emphasizing the commitment to work for non-discrimination and to promote and encourage the necessary measures to achieve equal opportunities between women and men in the organization.

 

The Equality plan is an ordered set of measures, adopted after
an assessment of context, whose objective is to a
chieve equality
of treatment and opportunities between women and men and to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of gender, as well as on
the grounds of sexual, affective and gender diversity.

​

The Protocol is a tool to intervene in situations of sexual harassment,
harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or
gender expression among members of IBEI community.

Institutional visits at IBEI

​

In 2022, distinguished visitors explored the activities and endeavours of IBEI, shedding light on its research, training programmes, and its inter-university nature.

 

In March, Joan Subirats, the Spanish Minister of Universities and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, engaged with IBEI’s president, director, scientific committee members, and the co-coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in Public Policy.

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Subsequently, in November, Katie Stana, the Consul General at the United States in Barcelona, delved into IBEI’s initiatives alongside the president, the director, and the IBEI-IEN Senior Fellow in American Foreign Policy and International Security. Stana’s extensive diplomatic career and experiences in various countries enhanced the exchange, contributing to a broader understanding of IBEI’s interdisciplinary approach and global outlook.

Board of Patrons

INSTITUTIONAL BOARD MEMBERS

​

Fundació Cercle d’Economia

Representative: Narcís Serra Serra (President)

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President of Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB)

Antoni Segura Mas

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Chancellor of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Javier Lafuente Sancho

​

Chancellor of Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Oriol Amat Salas

 

Chancellor of Universitat de Barcelona

Joan Guàrdia Olmos

​

Chancellor of Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Josep A. Planells i Estany

​

Chancellor of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Daniel Crespo Artiaga

​

Ajuntament de Barcelona

Representatives: Miquel Rodríguez Planas / Guillem Ramírez Chico

 

Diputació de Barcelona

Representative: Pilar Díaz Romero

​

Generalitat de Catalunya

Representative: Joan Maria Piqué Fernández

​

Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB)

Representative: Ernest Maragall Mira

​

“la Caixa” Foundation

Representative: Antoni Vila Bertrán

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Societat Econòmica Barcelonesa d’Amics del País (SEBAP)

Representative: Miquel Roca Junyent

DESIGNATED BOARD MEMBERS

​

Eduard Sagarra Trias

Designated by the United Nations Association of Spain (ANUE)

 

Francisco Andrés Pérez

Designated by the IBEI Alumni Association (ALIBEI)

​

Joaquim Coello Brufau

Designated by the Barcelona Global Association

 

Stefania Paola Ludovica Panebianco

Designated by the European International Studies Association (EISA)

 

Francisco Javier Solana Madariaga

Designated by the Amics de l’IBEI Association

 

Jose Ignacio Torreblanca Payá

Designated by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

 

Judit Carrera Escudé

Designated by board members outside the public sector as a relevant
professional in the cultural, social and/or scientific field

 

Carles Maria Casajuana Palet

Designated by board members outside the public sector as a
relevant professional in the cultural, social and/or scientific field

 

Carme Colomina Saló

Designated by board members outside the public sector as a
relevant professional in the cultural, social and/or scientific field

 

Jordi Vaquer Fanés

Designated by board members outside the public sector as
a relevant professional in the cultural, social and/or scientific field

NON-BOARD MEMBER SECRETARY


Yolanda Puiggròs Jiménez de Anta

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About IBEI
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Highlights

Our faculty are a dynamic and interdisciplinary
mix of junior, mid-career, and senior researchers.
We are international.

1

The Fred Halliday Award 2022

​

The first edition of the Fred Halliday Award was celebrated within the framework of the Barcelona Summer School of the Mediterranean and Middle East, a joint initiative of IBEI and Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull.

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The award was given to Jamie Allinson, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at
the University of Edin
burgh where he teaches courses on the Politics and IR of the Middle East.  He is the author of “The Age of Counter-Revolution: States and Revolutions in the Middle East” (Cambridge University Press, 2022) and “The Struggle for the State in Jordan” (IB Tauris, 2016, co-winner of the Jadaliyya Political Economy Book Prize).

2

Irina Ciornei wins The 
Gordon Smith and Vincent Wright Memorial 
Prize

​

Irina Ciornei, Ramón y Cajal Assistant Professor
at IBEI, was awarded The Gordon Smith and Vincent Wright Memorial Prize for the article “Political Parties and Muslims in Europe: The Regulation of Islam
in Public Education” co-authored with Eva-Maria Euchner and Ilay Yesil.

​

The prize is awarded by the editorial Taylor & Francis and the Editors of West European Politics Journal, who select the winning articles among the ones that make a significant contribution to the study of Comparative European Politics.

3

Five New Doctors at IBEI

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Five predoctoral fellows from IBEI, namely Diego Badell, Carlos Bravo, Alba Huidobro, Shaswat Kumar, and Adrià Rivera, successfully defended their PhD theses as part of different PhD Programmes at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). With their diverse areas of expertise, their research covered a wide range of pressing global issues.

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Diego focused on normative contestation in
EU foreign policy, while Carlos examined the EU’s
crisis management beyond its borders. Alba
delved into the role of leaders’ characteristics on
government formation, and Shaswat investigated regulatory 
arrangements and electricity governance
In India. Lastly, Adrià approached political transitions through a case study on Tunisia. This achievement undoubtedly marks a significant milestone in their academic journey.

4

The 6th International  Conference of Development
Studies held at IB
EI

​

On 8 and 10 June 2022, IBEI and the Spanish Network of Development Studies (REEDES) organized a conference at the premises of UPF Campus. The conference welcomed researchers, practitioners and social organizations interested in the current debate and practices of development and its relationship to societal issues and global governance.

 

The conference revolved around the core theme of the peace-security-development nexus, which gained further significance due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its numerous economic and social ramifications. Around 200 participants met in Barcelona to share their latest research results in the field of development studies.

5

IBEI hosted an International
Seminar on the Future of NATO

​

In collaboration with the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the EU, and Cooperation, IBEI organized an International Seminar on the Future of NATO, which coincided with the upcoming Madrid Summit.   

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On May 27, distinguished academics and professionals specializing in international security gathered at IBEI
to discuss the prevailing status of the transatlantic security alliance and NATO’s strategic outlook in response to emerging security challenges. The seminar also focused on Spain’s contributions to the Atlantic Alliance and explored prospects for the organization’s further enlargement.

6

Roundtable Series on 
Human Rights Today

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IBEI and The Social Observatory - “la Caixa” Foundation collaborated to organize a roundtable series aimed at addressing the growing questioning of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The series also delved into the current state of specific human rights, including those pertaining to migrants,
children, and women in conflict.

 

Esteemed academics, practitioners and young human rights activists convened at CaixaForum Macaya in April and May 2022 to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue centred around a fundamental question: Would it be possible to endorse the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the present day?

Highlights
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