Portugal is close to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. While this central moment in contemporary Portuguese 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 organizations 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 mobilization; participation of the media in the political struggle; and post the momentous days, the transition from coup detat to revolution. The dominant moments and themes of the Portuguese revolution are relayed 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 book is to view the revolution not only in terms of Portugals global position at the time, especially its historic 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, political and military choices made as this unexpected path to democracy took hold.

About the Author
Maria Inacia Rezola is a Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the School of Communication and Media Studies at ESCS-IPL.


Book Information
ISBN 9781789761832
Author Maria Inacia Rezola
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Liverpool University Press
Publisher Liverpool University Press