JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL WEIGHT OF BEING “ON TOP” OR “ON THE BOTTOM”

The national example that the Prime Minister decided to give to the Portuguese people with a football player, Ronaldo, who is now a lackey of a Saudi…

May 13 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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April 2026

March 2026

STORIES FROM THE EPHEMERA ARCHIVE (4) : EVERYTHING

The goal of the Ephemera Archive is, first of all, save, save, save an entire memory of the Portuguese people and offer an international context to that…

Mar 29 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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CENSORSHIP AND THE DEFENSE OF RESPECT

The country that could not come to the public eye, that is, the “real” country as it is said now, was very different from what managed to emerge in…

Mar 14 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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PUTIN IS ONE THING, RUSSIA IS ANOTHER

These days, I’m reminded of Tolstoy’s short story, “Alyosha the Pot,” describing his death after falling from a roof.

Mar 4 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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February 2026

THE SOURCES OF POPULISM IN EUROPE: THE PEOPLE AGAINST MONTESQUIEU

I had the chance to witness, in the year 2000, 26 years ago, the demonstration “against the law of silence” held in Brussels. I have seen many…

Feb 27 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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ZÉ POVINHO IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Zé Povinho is a character created in the 19th century by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, representing the response of the Portuguese people to those who want…

Feb 23 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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BOARD OF PEACE: WHAT A SHAME MY GOVERNMENT GIVES ME

Portugal will be part of Trump’s Board of Peace “as an observer”? What a shame! And you’re going to kiss Trump’s hand in Washington? What a shame!

Feb 22 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN: THE PITFALLS OF HISTORY

This story is the story of History as a trap. Nothing seemed to be in its “place,” and yet nothing was out of place. The post-Cold War world had caught…

Feb 20 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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STORIES FROM THE EPHEMERA ARCHIVE: (3) MEMORY IS NOT EASY

Memory deals with history, the most tumultuous human creation, which only exists because of memory and which, like all human work, tends to be cruel and…

Feb 14 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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THE EROSION OF PRIVACY THROUGH THE USE OF FEELINGS IN POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

The rapid erosion of privacy is one of consequences of the rise of demagoguery, the massification of contemporary societies in the consumption of…

Feb 9 • JOSÉ PACHECO PEREIRA

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