This new Spanish translation of Frédéric Bastiat,
titled La Ley y Otros Ensayos or (The Law and Other Essays) in English, makes the great libertarian ideas of Bastiat available for the first time to Spanish-speaking high school and university students.
The book, translated by Alex Montero, includes a great introduction by Bob McTeer, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (basically a transcript of his speech, "Why Bastiat is my Hero" which was delivered at the
ISIL/LI world conference in Dax, France in 2001).
The book was recently published by the Instituto Libertario (www.InstitutoLibertario.org).
"The problem we had," says Instituto Libertario director José Joaquín Fernández, "is that there wasn't much libertarian literature in Spanish, and the few books that had been translated were expensive and very hard to obtain. This meant the only way we could spread libertarian ideas was by speech."
By starting with The Law and some of Bastiat's other
essays, Fernández has been able to publish an edition that can be sold for only 500 Costa
Rican colones, which is less than US$1.50.
The strategy seems to be working. The Instituto Libertario's new Spanish edition of The Law has been so successful in Costa Rica that one of the major supermarket chains in the country has agreed to carry it.
Soon it will also be available in local bookstores.
Fernández, who conducts economic seminars several times a week for local schools and universities, has been amazed at the overwhelming interest students have been showing. Over 2,500 students have attended so far.
"Often, they lose their lunch hour so they can stay and ask questions."
A key to the success of the seminars, according to Fernández, is the independent nature of the
Institute from politics. "The professors won't allow political propaganda in their classrooms, and students say they are turned off
by it, but when an independent organization presents ideas about liberty without propaganda, they listen. And they want more. The
Bastiat book is a perfect way for them to pursue their interest in libertarian ideas."
José Joaquín Fernández is founder and director of Costa Rica's Instituto
Libertario. He was also an organizer for the 1999 ISIL World Conference in San José, Costa
Rica.
International Society for Individual Liberty
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Bastiat Published by Costa Ricans
