Catalonia’s independence

Although Catalonia has declared independence based on at least three elections that have reflected its desire to separate from Spain, the national government in Madrid has imposed direct rule over the region. According to the Spanish government, Catalonia has no right to become independent, because Spain is indivisible under its constitution.

William Burke-White

Richard Perry Professor and Inaugural Director, Perry World House; Professor of Law.
Law School.
University of Pennsylvania.

William Burke-White, is a legal expert on international law and global governance, as well as secession and self-determination. His work has addressed issues of post-conflict justice; the International Criminal Court; international human rights, and international arbitration. His current research explores gaps in the global governance system and the challenges of international legal regulation in a world of rising powers and divergent interests.



Rebecca Anderson | 215-898-9216 | randers@law.upenn.edu


Brendan O’Leary

Lauder Professor of Political Science.
School of Arts & Sciences.
University of Pennsylvania.

An Irish and U.S. citizen, Brendan O’Leary’s areas of expertise include power-sharing, nationalism, national and ethnic conflict-regulation; national self-determination; national, ethnic and community violence; democratization and electoral systems.



Jill DiSanto | 215.898.2956 | jdisanto@upenn.edu


Mauro Guillén

Felix Zandman Endowed Professor in International Management.
Anthony L. Davis Director of the Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies.
The Wharton School.
University of Pennsylvania.

Mauro F. Guillén holds a dual U.S.-Spain citizenship and is the director of the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at Penn, a research-and-teaching program on management and international relations. Guillén’s research interests include economic sociology, emerging multinational firms, globalization, international banking strategies, international political economy, multinational management and organizational theory.