Salazar and the Winds of History - The Resistance to Decolonization (1941-1968)

Salazar and the Winds of History - The Resistance to Decolonization (1941-1968)

Portuguese decolonization has been studied exclusively from a perspective of a very short period of time, focusing on the period that begins with the revolution of 25th April 1974 until the date on which the independence of Angola was proclaimed, on 11th November of the following year. It is quite clear, however, that it is part of a much wider global movement, initiated immediately after World War II, and with roots that go even further back in time; and that only in this context can it be fully understood, in its common points and specificities.

The present project seeks to study the issue of Portuguese decolonization in this domain, in other words, from a  perspective of a long period of time and in comparative terms, which comprises three aspects of analysis: the global movement of decolonization, in general terms; the evolution of the Portuguese empire, after the Second World War (without excluding one or two incursions in prior periods, when  interpretation needs so require); and of the thinking and action of the Portuguese Government, and in particular that of Salazar, in his resistance to the ‘winds of history' that fomented the independences in the Asian and African continents.

The vast theme of decolonization may be approached from multiple angles, even when limited to one single country and its empire. In this project, we chose to focus the analysis on Salazar, on his ideology and policy, with regard to the colonial question. This option owes much to the research in the Arquivo Salazar (deposited in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo), which allowed us to take account of the wealth of documentation gathered therein, involving all aspects of governance - and among those the colonial question, with a growing insistence after the Second World War, and in such a way that, since the end of the 1950's, it is assuredly the most represented issue. Occasionally, we will also resort to other archives, namely that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino.

Estatuto: 
Proponent entity
Financed: 
No
Keywords: 

Decolonization; Colonial Question; Salazar; New State

Portuguese decolonization has been studied exclusively from a perspective of a very short period of time, focusing on the period that begins with the revolution of 25th April 1974 until the date on which the independence of Angola was proclaimed, on 11th November of the following year. It is quite clear, however, that it is part of a much wider global movement, initiated immediately after World War II, and with roots that go even further back in time; and that only in this context can it be fully understood, in its common points and specificities.

The present project seeks to study the issue of Portuguese decolonization in this domain, in other words, from a  perspective of a long period of time and in comparative terms, which comprises three aspects of analysis: the global movement of decolonization, in general terms; the evolution of the Portuguese empire, after the Second World War (without excluding one or two incursions in prior periods, when  interpretation needs so require); and of the thinking and action of the Portuguese Government, and in particular that of Salazar, in his resistance to the ‘winds of history' that fomented the independences in the Asian and African continents.

The vast theme of decolonization may be approached from multiple angles, even when limited to one single country and its empire. In this project, we chose to focus the analysis on Salazar, on his ideology and policy, with regard to the colonial question. This option owes much to the research in the Arquivo Salazar (deposited in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo), which allowed us to take account of the wealth of documentation gathered therein, involving all aspects of governance - and among those the colonial question, with a growing insistence after the Second World War, and in such a way that, since the end of the 1950's, it is assuredly the most represented issue. Occasionally, we will also resort to other archives, namely that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino.

Objectivos: 
The final objective of the project involves the publication of a book with about 300 pages.
Parceria: 
Unintegrated
Coordenador ICS 
Referência externa 
PROJ10/2009
Start Date: 
02/01/1998
End Date: 
31/12/2009
Duração: 
143 meses
Closed