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Revision as of 23:13, 13 March 2005 by 67.85.188.108 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Estado Novo (New State) is the name of the Portuguese Conservative Authoritarian regime installed in 1933. The Estado Novo was developed by António de Oliveira Salazar, ruler of Portugal from 1932 to 1968.
The Estado Novo was a "benevolent" regime with a fascist orientation, but which differed from other fascist-oriented regimes, like Nationalist Spain or Italy by its decreased level of violence. Salazar was a Catholic and Portugal was the first country to abolish the death penalty, in the 19th century. However, one of the pillars of the regime was the PIDE, the secret police which murdered dissenters and oppositors.
The Estado Novo enforced Nationalist and Catholic values onto the Portuguese population. The whole Education System was directed to the exaltation of the Portuguese Nation and its overseas colonies (the Ultramar). The motto of the regime was Deus, Pátria e Familia (meaning God, Fatherland and Family).
The Estado Novo accepted the Italian Corporativist economic style, but still regarding Capitalism as the way to choose. Although Salazar refused to sign the Anti-Comintern pact in 1938, the Portuguese Communist Party was intensely persecuted. The only allowed party was the União Nacional (National Union), which comprised a wide range of right-wing politics, passing through monarchism, fascism, nationalism and extreme-capitalism.
The Legião Nacional was a Popular Militia similar to the Italian Blackskirts. The Mocidade Portuguesa replaced the boy scouts and was an organization similar to the Hitler Youth. These 2 organizations were heavily supported by the State and imposed a martial style of life.
During 40's and the 50's Portugal saw great economic growth. Salazar managed to reestablish the Portuguese economy, after the chaotic First Portuguese Republic of 1910-1926. A brand new road system was built, new bridges crossed the rivers and the Educational Program was able to build a Primary School in each Portuguese thorp, providing free Primary Education for the people.
The end of the Estado Novo began with the uprisings in the colonies in the 60's. The Independence Movements in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea were supported both by the USSR and the USA, which wanted to end all Colonial Empires and expand their sphere of influence. The colonial war is seen by many in Portugal the same way many in the United States see the Vietnam War: a worthless war which killed thousands and ruined the reputation of the state.
Although Portugal was able to mantain some superiority in the colonies, by the use of elite paratroopers and special-op troops, the foreign support to the guerillas made them superior, inflicting losses in the Portuguese army.
The whole situation was aggravated with the death of Salazar. In 1970, the strong man of the regime dies, being replaced by one of his closest cooperators: Marcelo Caetano. Although Marcelo Caetano tried to slowly democratize the country, he could not hide the clear dictatorship that oppressed Portugal. In 1974, a coup d'etat organized by left-wing Military officers, with the support of the USSR took down the Estado Novo.
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