Alvaro Morcillo

Teaching at IES Barcelona has brought me back to Spain after nine years living abroad. Just like you, coming to stay in Barcelona, I'm excited about this opportunity to explore - or in some cases - revisit streets, food, languages - Catalan, in my case, and political conflicts.

Before coming to Barcelona, I spent most of my time abroad in Berlin, Germany, where I studied Law and Political Science. In July 2006, I submitted my PhD dissertation on how regional parties modify the workings of federal states and their policies towards the European Union. Now I am engaged in a research project at the Social Science Research Centre, Berlin, exploring the integration of immigrants in Brussels, Berlin, and, of course, Barcelona.

Being a comparative political scientist, I am persuaded that the best way to know your country and your city is to become aware of the extent to which political institutions shape human behaviour.

I hope your stay in Barcelona will not only open a door for you to Catalan, Spanish, and European culture, but also to a better understanding of your home country - and of yourself.