The Portuguese revolution of 1974-1975 : an unexpected path to democracy

Author / Creator

Rezola, Maria Inácia, author

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Summary

"Portugal is close to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. While this central moment in contemporary Portugese history has long attracted international academic interest, t...

"Portugal is close to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. While this central moment in contemporary Portugese history has long attracted international academic interest, there is a dearth of studies that explain the interrelationships between the main issues that singled out this revolutionary moment. The aims and actions of the three main protagonists: the armed forces, the political parties, and mass social organisations are linked in myriad ways. The political role of the armed forces; the crisis of state authority; the political justice formulas adopted; the affirmation of civilian political elites; the role of workers and neighbourhood movements, and other forms of popular mobilisation; participation of the media in the political struggle; and, after the momentous days, the transition from coup d'état to revolution. The dominant moments and themes of the Portuguese revolution are related by close examination of original archival documentation; oral and written primary sources; and government records. Was military disquiet at the heart of the move toward democracy? Or was the instigator the growing dissatisfaction of the populace with the political class? A prime aim of the books is to view the revolution not only in terms of Portugal's global position at the time, especially its historical colonialism, but what all players thought and expressed in the run up to the 25th of April. Attention is paid to the immediate post-revolution period, and the national, polticial and military choices made as this unexpected path to democracy took hold" --

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