Twentieth-Century Portugal: An Overview

Twentieth-Century Portugal: A Historical Overview by José Miguel Sardica

Bibliographic Details

  • Title: Twentieth-century Portugal: a historical overview
  • Author: José Miguel Sardica
  • Publisher: Universidade Católica Editora
  • Publication Year: 2008
  • Number of Pages: 152
  • ISBN: 978-972-54-0199-6
  • CDU Code: 946.9" 19"

The Military Dictatorship and the Rise of Salazar

  • In 1926, a coalition of various groups including military officials, nationalists, Catholics, monarchists, and others formed an alliance to install a regime that opposed republican rule.

    • Key Groups Involved:
    • Military
    • Nationalists
    • Catholics
    • Monarchists
    • Fascist sympathisers
    • Moderate and conservative republicans
    • Sceptical liberals
    • Working-class groupings of the left
    • The goal of these groups was to oust "republican demagogy" and restore order, referred to as "national regeneration."
    • The existing liberalism and secular modernization were viewed as failures in developing the country.

  • The ideology replacing liberalism was not yet defined in 1926; thus, the regime was not the Estado Novo (New State) but rather an initial Military Dictatorship. This dictatorship lasted for seven years.

    • Historical Context:
    • The dictatorship transitioned through various right-wing forces competing for power until a unification under Salazar in the early 1930s.
    • After 1932, a single right-wing force dominated and maintained control until the late 1950s.

  • Salazar’s Early Life:

    • Born in April 1889 in Vimieiro, Beira (northeast of Coimbra).
    • Parents were innkeepers and small farmers who provided a religious upbringing.

  • Education:

    • Joined the Catholic seminary in Viseu in 1900.
    • Graduated from the University of Coimbra in 1914 with a law degree and began a career as a teacher in economics and finance.

  • Political Involvement:

    • Criticized republican ideas in local Catholic newspapers from 1908.
    • Little known publicly until briefly serving as Minister of Finance in 1926.

  • Economic Crisis and Rise to Power:

    • Portugal's economy suffered significantly from 1926 to 1928, exacerbated by foreign borrowing.
    • Salazar's criticisms of financial policies established his reputation as a leading economist. He was invited to assume the Ministry of Finance in April 1928 under President Óscar Carmona with the mandate to resolve the financial crisis.

  • Salazar’s Objective:

    • His primary goal was to achieve a balanced budget, which became a central economic policy.
    • He sought to eventually address broader economic, social, political, institutional, and moral issues.

  • Power Consolidation:

    • From 1928 to 1932, Salazar expanded his powers, strategically co-opting and neutralizing both allies and adversaries.
    • He navigated the political landscape, solidifying a support base that included various conservative factions while suppressing dissent from both left and right-wing opponents.

  • Appointment as Prime Minister:

    • In July 1932, Salazar was appointed Prime Minister as he was seen as a necessary stabilizing force, retaining this position for thirty-six years until 1968.

The Ideological Essence of Salazarism

  • Salazar’s ideology encompassed authoritarianism, conservativism, traditionalism, ultra-nationalism, and Catholic roots influenced by Integralism and key papal encyclicals (e.g., Rerum Novarum, Graves de Communi).

  • Core Beliefs:

    • Viewed contemporary Portuguese societal issues as stemming from moral decay and disintegration linked to liberalism and Masonic influences.
    • Rejected democratic individualism and popular sovereignty as incompatible with the Portuguese character, advocating for the restoration of traditional values.

  • Slogan of the Regime:

    • "Deus, Pátria e Família" (God, Homeland and Family) became the guiding ethos of Salazarism, encapsulating the regime’s core values.

  • Attitude Toward Modernization:

    • Salazar showed an aversion to change and modernity, preferring the preservation of established social structures and values.
    • He perceived modernization as a threat rather than an opportunity, thus fostering governmental stagnation as a means of preserving social stability.

  • Perspective on Governance:

    • Salazar regarded national sovereignty as chaotic and believed that only a select elite could properly direct society.
    • His public speeches aimed to entrench a conservative moral order rather than stimulate democratic engagement or political discourse.

  • Comparison with Absolute Rulership:

    • Salazar viewed his rule as akin to that of an 18th-century absolute monarch, aspiring to guide the nation akin to historical figures like Prince Henry the Navigator.
    • His speeches resembled sermons, focused on moral values and the need for national de-politicization rather than ideological debates.

Implications of Salazarism

  • The establishment of a framework that prioritized stability and order over individual freedoms served to limit political discourse and collective agency within the nation.
  • Salazar's legacy reflects the intricate dynamics of authoritarian governance intertwined with nationalist ideology, deeply rooted in a belief in moral hierarchies and societal structures.