Portugal y su imperio frente a la descolonización 1945-62

Abstract

Portugal managed to build a colonial empire in Africa which was as remarkable as out of proportion with the country’s limited resources. This was posible thanks to an odd combination of internal and external factors. This successful combination led Portuguese rulers to attach a great ideological meaning to the country’s overseas possessions. Alter WWII, however, the external factors favouring Portuguese colonial expansion disappear. In the new context of the Cold War and Decolonization, Portugal seems unable to reach a successful compromise with her colonies. Fears arise that the loss of overseas territories might as well finish with the Salazar Regime. Along with other causes, these fears made it impossible for the Portuguese government to change its rigid policy, which was kept despite difficult national and international circumstances, especially since 1961. Notwithstanding this context, most of the Estado Novo Establishment refused to contemplate any other alternative which might question «the multi-continental unity of Portugal and her overseas provinces». This «unity» was the foundation of the myth of the «unique case» of Portuguese colonialism. The dogmatic character of such unity, together with the dictatorial nature of the regime, prevented any open discussion about the issue. For all these reasons, the only way out of this impasse was war, alongside some