The Virtue of Nationalism in Brazil

I know this period of quarantines and closures has been difficult for many of you. Here in Jerusalem, Yael and I have had most of our kids home for the last nine weeks. Despite the difficulties, there has been a lot of growth and bonding as well as we all learned to live together and get to know each other better. Israel is doing better for now, with only one new case of the virus reported today. Our youngest kids are returning to school this week, and we’re praying for the best.

I wanted to share with you a video that I found quite moving. As you probably know, my book The Virtue of Nationalism is being translated into a dozen languages foreign languages. Before the virus hit and slowed some of these editions down, the book had already appeared in Italian, Hungarian, and Portuguese.

In each country in which the book is published, it stirs up a renewed debate over the question of nationalism versus the post-nationalist “liberal international order.” No two nations are the same (which is, of course, the whole point), and so it is fascinating to see the way in which The Virtue of Nationalism, appearing in translation, is understood by friends working hard to draw attention to its message in another nation with its own unique culture and concerns.

Below is a video from the book launch in Brazil (in Portuguese with English subtitles). It features Evandro Pontes, a prominent law professor who translated The Virtue of Nationalism into Portuguese, which was published last year. On December 11, 2019, Pontes spoke about the meaning of the book for Brazilians—and for him personally—at an event about the book sponsored by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG). He is introduced by Roberto Goidanich, President of the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation.

Thank you to everyone in Brazil who made the Portuguese translation, as well as this meaningful event, possible!