José Ignacio Torreblanca
Head, Madrid Office
Senior Policy Fellow
Languages: Spanish, English
Areas of Expertise: Populism and euroscepticism in Europe; Common Foreign Security and Defence Policy; EU domestic politics; institutional reforms
José Ignacio Torreblanca is a senior policy fellow and head of the Madrid office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a position he has held since the launch of ECFR across Europe in 2007. His topics of focus include populism and euroscepticism in Europe, common foreign security and defence policy, and EU domestic politics and institutional reforms
Torreblanca was previously editorial director of the Spanish daily El Pais. His list of publications, articles, multimedia content and press interviews with ECFR is available below.
Latest from José Ignacio Torreblanca
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Video: How to restore democracy in Venezuela? Interview with Felipe González
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 07 February 2019
ECFR Madrid in collaboration with Fundación Felipe González recorded a conversation between former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González and Head of the ECFR Madrid Office José Ignacio Torreblanca on the situation in Venezuela and the legitimacy of Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.
How to restore democracy in Venezuela (Commentary)
Felipe González and José Ignacio Torreblanca - 07 February 2019
A conversation between Felipe González and José Ignacio Torreblanca on the situation in Venezuela and the legitimacy of Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency
The crisis in Venezuela: What does Europe’s move mean?
Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and speaks with Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, Federica Paddeu, and Sergey Sukhankin, about what risks the recognition of Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela by several European countries will bring. The podcast was recorded on 5 February 2019.
Bookshelf:
Russian mercenaries on the march: next stop Venezuela? by Sergey Sukhankin
Dismantling Democracy in Venezuela: The Chávez Authoritarian Experiment by Allan R. Brewer-Carías
The Mutiny - the name of the third world by Evgeny Messner
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley and the New World Order by Kai-Fu Lee
Brexit disorder: Corbyn and May (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 22 January 2019
The British prime minister and the leader of the oppositions are stuck in cynicism and opportunism
The GCM: The clash between populism and technocracy
Mark Leonard speaks with Shoshana Fine, Tom Nuttall, Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, and Patrycja Sasnal about the UN’s Global Compact for Migration, and whether it matters that some European countries haven’t signed it. The podcast was recorded on 12 December 2018.
Bookshelf:
Go, went, gone by Jenny Erpenbeck
How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Security at the Borders: Transnational Practices and Technologies in West Africa by Philippe M. Frowd
Revolution Of Hope: Toward a Humanized Technology by Erich Fromm
Distant Love by Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim
The radical right comes to Spain (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 04 December 2018
After this week's election in Spain, the far-right party Vox now has its first MPs. But it is too early to say if we are seeing a resurgence of Spanish nationalism.
Democracy defeated the coup (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 23 November 2018
A year on, it is clear that the Catalan parliamentary coup d’état of 2017 has strengthened the Spanish political nation
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Border games: Has Spain found an answer to the populist challenge on migration?
by Shoshana Fine, José Ignacio Torreblanca - 03rd September, 2019
Spain, and Europe, need a new story about migration – it remains to be seen how the country will put this into practice.
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How to govern a fragmented EU: What Europeans said at the ballot box
by Susi Dennison, Mark Leonard, and Pawel Zerka
With Teresa Coratella, Josef Janning, Andrzej Mendel-Nykorowycz, and José Ignacio Torreblanca - 19th June, 2019The results of the European election confront EU leaders with a considerable challenge: navigating a new, more fragmented, and polarised political environment
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The Eurosceptic surge and how to respond to it
by José Ignacio Torreblanca, Mark Leonard - 29th April, 2014
Pro-Europeans should create space for battles between competing visions of Europe
PDF EPUB Mobi
The continent-wide rise of Euroscepticism
by José Ignacio Torreblanca, Mark Leonard - 16th May, 2013
Europeans are losing faith in the EU
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What is political union?
by Sebastian Dullien, José Ignacio Torreblanca - 12th December, 2012
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Bringing the radical right in: Lessons learned from Spain (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 13 November 2019
Vox’s success in Spain illuminates some of populism’s successful escalation strategies, as well as the mistakes of mainstream parties.
Europe in no man’s land (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 05 July 2019
To remain relevant in the twenty-first century Europe needs to revamp its toolbox by integrating its capabilities.
Borrell returns: His vision for Europe (Commentary)
Josep Borrell and José Ignacio Torreblanca - 22 May 2019
A conversation between Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell and José Ignacio Torreblanca ahead of the European elections
Spain: The European oasis (Commentary)
Gisela Hernandez & José Ignacio Torreblanca - 22 May 2019
Spaniards remain fervent believers in the European project despite the lasting effects of 2008 financial crisis.
Spain’s election and the temptation of yielding to the far-right (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 02 May 2019
Spain is a bulwark of pro-European values and a progressive immigration policy. The poor performance of the conservatives in the parliamentary elections sends an important message to conservative parties Europe-wide.
Spain election: A win for "No pasarán"? (Commentary)
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 29 April 2019
Pedro Sánchez united the vote in the face of the Vox threat. The other big winner was Ciudadanos – which could now supplant the conservative PP as the main opposition
Spain’s craziest election ever (Commentary)
Carla Hobbs & José Ignacio Torreblanca - 26 April 2019
Spain's snap election will be of "existential importance" - below, an explainer to get ready for Sunday outlining the contenders and possible outcomes
How to restore democracy in Venezuela (Commentary)
Felipe González and José Ignacio Torreblanca - 07 February 2019
A conversation between Felipe González and José Ignacio Torreblanca on the situation in Venezuela and the legitimacy of Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency
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How to deal with our Western Balkan neighbours?
North Macedonia and Albania wanted to start negotiations with the EU after having been candidate countries since 2005 and 2014. But the enlargement plans seemed to have stalled especially after opposition from France.
Host Mark Leonard is joined by Susi Dennison, José Ignacio Torreblanca and Vessela Tcherneva to get to the bottom of things and the divisions particularly between France and Germany on this issue.The podcast as recorded on 17 October 2019.
Bookshelf:
- The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff
- "Spring" by Ali Smith
- "The light that failed" by Ivan Krastev & Stephen Holmes
- "State of the Union" Miniseries on BBC Two
Video: The Four Crises of Europe: Felipe González and the European Elections
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 08 April 2019
ECFR Madrid sits down with former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González to discuss topics such as the state of the European Union ahead of May's European Parliament elections, the rise of Eurosceptic parties, Brexit, and relations with the US and Russia.
Video: How to restore democracy in Venezuela? Interview with Felipe González
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 07 February 2019
ECFR Madrid in collaboration with Fundación Felipe González recorded a conversation between former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González and Head of the ECFR Madrid Office José Ignacio Torreblanca on the situation in Venezuela and the legitimacy of Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.
The crisis in Venezuela: What does Europe’s move mean?
Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and speaks with Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, Federica Paddeu, and Sergey Sukhankin, about what risks the recognition of Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela by several European countries will bring. The podcast was recorded on 5 February 2019.
Bookshelf:
Russian mercenaries on the march: next stop Venezuela? by Sergey Sukhankin
Dismantling Democracy in Venezuela: The Chávez Authoritarian Experiment by Allan R. Brewer-Carías
The Mutiny - the name of the third world by Evgeny Messner
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley and the New World Order by Kai-Fu Lee
The GCM: The clash between populism and technocracy
Mark Leonard speaks with Shoshana Fine, Tom Nuttall, Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, and Patrycja Sasnal about the UN’s Global Compact for Migration, and whether it matters that some European countries haven’t signed it. The podcast was recorded on 12 December 2018.
Bookshelf:
Go, went, gone by Jenny Erpenbeck
How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Security at the Borders: Transnational Practices and Technologies in West Africa by Philippe M. Frowd
Revolution Of Hope: Toward a Humanized Technology by Erich Fromm
Distant Love by Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim
Video: ¿Alcanzará el Reino Unido el acuerdo que necesita para quedarse en la UE?
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 23 October 2015
José I. Torreblanca sobre Brexit en el BCM de ECFR el 14 de octubre de 2015 en Londres.
Views from the Capitals - Renegotiation: Can Britain get the deal it needs?
ECFR experts discuss findings of ECFR’s Britain in Europe renegotiation scorecard, a regular assessment of how the British asks are perceived in other member states.
Video: Joaquín Almunia y José Ignacio Torreblanca sobre el tercer rescate a Grecia
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 16 July 2015
Joaquín Almunia y José Ignacio Torreblanca analizan el futuro de Grecia tras el tercer rescate y el futuro diseño de la Eurozona.
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L’Opinion
12th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca explains the Spanish general elections of November 2019 to the French media.
L’Opinion
12th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca wrote a column in the newspaper L'Opinion about the rise of the far right in the general elections.
L’essentiel
12th November, 2019
Jose Ignacio Torreblanca is quoted by Libération regarding the crisis in Catalonia.
La Minute
12th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca is quoted by La Minute regarding the legislative elections in Spain.
France 24
11th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca quoted on Pedro Sánchez after the general elections of November 2019
La Nación
10th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca talks about the Spanish general elections of November 2019.
RTBF
10th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca is quoted by RTBF regarding the legislative elections in Spain.
L’Union
10th November, 2019
José Ignacio Torreblanca is quoted by L'Union regarding the legislative elections in Spain.
Contact
Email: [email protected]