Introduction and mission

The Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies is located at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science and has become the initiator and focus of a flourishing new interest in contemporary Spain in Britain. It organizes conferences and seminars, has created new courses on Spain for the Master's programmes in the LSE, and initiated an exciting range of publications, including a series of books on Spanish history. The Centre also possesses a valuable archival centre for specialists in contemporary Spanish history.

A team of both doctoral and post-doctoral scholars, some funded by the generous scholarship offered by the Foundation, is based in the Centre. Distinguished professors from Spain, who come as Visiting Fellows, are offered the full facilities of the London School of Economics through the Centre. Thanks to the support of the Fundación Cañada Blanch of Valencia, the Centre offers optimum facilities for research and teaching which it is hoped will contribute to the deeper understanding of contemporary Spain.

The Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies is the result of an agreement signed by the Cañada Blanch Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1996. Its principal aim is to promote the research and teaching of contemporary Spanish history, economy, sociology and culture. The Centre is part of the European Institute based at the London School of Economics.

The activities of the Cañada Blanch Foundation in the UK are motivated by two factors. One is to continue the work of the founder, D. Vicente Cañada Blanch, the other is to fulfill the principal aim of the Foundation which is to encourage the study and research of Spanish History and Literature and to promote the collaboration of academics and students from both countries.

The objectives of the Centre are:

To organise a programme of regular seminars on contemporary Spain.
To expand the documentary archives used by researchers.
To encourage the publication of books on contemporary Spain by British publishers under the Centre's name.
To provide postgraduate courses on contemporary Spain.
To invite and look after Spanish Researchers.
To collaborate with Spanish research centres in their projects.
To organise conferences on contemporary Spain.