empeñado en

09:35 Jan 20, 2016 

An interesting discussion, thanks all. Thanks for your comments, Luz, this is what was causing me problems - the 'literal' meaning didn't seem to make sense to begin with. But on reading Robert's explanation, I think now that maybe it does. (Perhaps sometimes you need to interpret in order to translate?) I'm toying with 'stubborn in its incomprehension'...

06:23 Jan 20, 2016 

You want to TRANSLATE the text, not interpret it, correct? If so, use the actual definition of the word and let the readers interpret for themselves. The suggestions that are given, most of them, are NOT an actual translation for the word.

14:56 Jan 19, 2016 

By using "empeñado en", it looks to me as if the author is blaming the country, making it an active participant in its incomrehension, rather than saying that it is a passive subject. This probably has more to do with the idea that the political class and the media in general have a hand in misinforming and confusing the public about the issues behind the violence, an idea which a large minority of the country shares.

10:48 Jan 19, 2016 

:)

10:38 Jan 19, 2016 

You are correct, the author is talking about the country. Is what I am understanding