Committees

Conference on the Catalan Referendum and Independence, 2014

Chair: Anna Garofano
Vice Chair: Anna Ginzburg
Crisis Director: Dexter Thompson-Pomeroy


Benvinguts a Barcelona! Welcome to Barcelona, a thriving city in Spain... or is it in Spain? The year is 2014 and after years of an increasing economic and social rift between Catalunya and the rest of Spain, the government of the still autonomous community of Catalunya is meeting in an ad-hoc closed doors session to determine whether or not to hold a referendum on self-determination for the Catalan people and independence from Spain. The debate will feature internal Catalan political struggles, tension with the rest of Spain, and negotiations with third-party states in the EU such as France, as well as other secessionist movements in Spain.

Dexter Thompson-Pomeroy was born in the US, lives in Japan and speaks Spanish with a Spanish accent. In High School he conducted a long research essay involving primary-source research into Spanish public opinion regarding Basque Separatism. He enjoys reading about Spanish national and regional politics, listening to Spanish Pop and annoying his Latin American friends with his "proper" accent.

Anna Garofano Nogueras was born and lives in Barcelona. Anna speaks both Catalan and Spanish, and she has also interned for the main Catalan party. Because Anna thinks that 300 years under Spanish rule are enough, she hopes that in the actual referendum of 2014 Catalunya becomes.... Well, it depends on the delegates, doesn't it?

Background Guide