What Nationalism Consists Of
“Let’s briefly summarize what nationalism consists of in the realm of culture. Basically, it asks one to consider what is one’s own absolute and unquestionable value and to devalue all that is foreign as something that threatens, undermines, impoverishes, or degenerates the spiritual personality of a country. Although such a thesis withstands the most shallow analysis with difficulty and it is easy to demonstrate how prejudiced and naïve its reasoning is, as well as how unrealistic its aims – cultural autocracy – are, history shows us that it takes root with ease and that even countries with an ancient and solid civilization are not immune to it.”
– Mario Vargas Llosa, Sabers and Utopias: Visions of Latin America