Estado Novo In Portugal: The Beginning

The Estado Novo, or New State, marks a significant period in Portuguese history. Understanding its origins is crucial to grasping 20th-century Portugal's political and social landscape. Let's dive into how this authoritarian regime came to be. The backdrop to the Estado Novo involves a complex interplay of political instability, economic woes, and social unrest that plagued Portugal in the early 20th century. The preceding First Republic, established in 1910 after the monarchy's overthrow, was characterized by frequent changes in government, corruption, and a failure to address pressing social and economic issues. This environment of chaos and disillusionment paved the way for the rise of authoritarian sentiment. Several factors contributed to the rise of the Estado Novo. One key element was the widespread dissatisfaction with the First Republic. The republican regime, despite its initial promise of progress and reform, struggled to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Portuguese citizens. Political infighting, corruption, and economic mismanagement undermined public trust in the government and created a sense of instability. Another factor was the influence of contemporary European political trends. The rise of fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany offered alternative models of governance that appealed to some sectors of Portuguese society, particularly those who were disillusioned with liberal democracy and sought a more authoritarian solution to the country's problems. The Catholic Church, traditionally a powerful force in Portuguese society, also played a significant role in the rise of the Estado Novo. The Church had been alienated by the anti-clerical policies of the First Republic and saw in the authoritarian regime an opportunity to restore its influence and promote its conservative social values.

The Coup of 1926

The establishment of the Estado Novo wasn't a sudden event but rather a gradual process that began with the military coup of May 28, 1926. This coup, led by General Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa, overthrew the fragile democratic government and ushered in a period of military dictatorship. The coup of 1926 was not solely the work of the military. It had support from various factions within Portuguese society, including conservatives, monarchists, and elements of the Catholic Church. These groups shared a common desire for stability and order and saw the military as the only force capable of restoring it. The military dictatorship that followed the coup was initially intended as a temporary measure to restore order and stability. However, it soon became clear that the military had no intention of relinquishing power. General Gomes da Costa was quickly replaced by General Óscar Carmona, who consolidated his control over the government and began to lay the groundwork for a more permanent authoritarian regime. Carmona, while a military figure, recognized the need for civilian expertise in managing the country's affairs. He appointed António de Oliveira Salazar, a professor of economics at the University of Coimbra, as Minister of Finance in 1928. This appointment would prove to be a turning point in Portuguese history. The military dictatorship, while initially focused on restoring order, faced significant challenges in addressing Portugal's economic problems. The country was burdened by debt, inflation, and a lack of investment. Salazar's appointment as Minister of Finance was intended to bring fiscal discipline and economic stability to the country.

The Rise of Salazar

António de Oliveira Salazar quickly became the central figure in the Estado Novo. His background as an economics professor provided him with the expertise to address Portugal's financial woes, and his conservative, authoritarian views aligned with the regime's goals. Salazar's rise to power was meteoric. As Minister of Finance, he implemented a series of austerity measures that stabilized the Portuguese economy and restored the country's financial credibility. His success in this role earned him the admiration of the military and the support of key sectors of Portuguese society. In 1932, Salazar was appointed Prime Minister, effectively becoming the head of the Portuguese government. He wasted no time in consolidating his power and laying the foundations for the Estado Novo. Salazar's political ideology was rooted in conservative Catholicism and authoritarianism. He believed in a strong, centralized state that would guide and control all aspects of society. He rejected liberal democracy, individualism, and socialism, viewing them as threats to social order and national unity. Salazar's political philosophy was articulated in the Doctrine of the Estado Novo, a set of principles that guided the regime's policies and actions. The Doctrine emphasized the importance of tradition, family, and religion, and promoted a corporatist model of economic and social organization. The Doctrine of the Estado Novo provided the ideological justification for the regime's authoritarian policies. It emphasized the importance of order, discipline, and national unity, and promoted a hierarchical social structure in which the state played a dominant role. Salazar used the Doctrine to legitimize his regime and to suppress dissent and opposition.

Consolidating Power

With Salazar at the helm, the regime moved to solidify its control over all aspects of Portuguese life. This involved suppressing opposition, controlling the media, and establishing a pervasive system of censorship. The consolidation of power under Salazar involved the creation of a one-party state. The National Union, established in 1930, was the sole legal political party in Portugal. It served as a vehicle for mobilizing support for the regime and for suppressing dissent. Opposition parties were banned, and political activity outside the National Union was strictly prohibited. One of the key instruments of repression was the secret police, known as the PVDE (Polícia de Vigilância e de Defesa do Estado), later renamed the PIDE (Polícia Internacional e de Defesa do Estado). The PVDE/PIDE was responsible for monitoring and suppressing political opposition, arresting and detaining dissidents, and employing torture and other forms of abuse to extract information and maintain control. Censorship was another key tool used by the regime to control information and suppress dissent. All forms of media, including newspapers, magazines, books, and radio, were subject to strict censorship. The regime controlled the flow of information and prevented the dissemination of ideas that challenged its authority. The Estado Novo also sought to control education and culture. The education system was used to indoctrinate young people with the values of the regime, and cultural activities were strictly regulated to ensure that they conformed to the regime's ideology. The regime promoted a nationalist narrative that emphasized Portugal's historical achievements and its role as a civilizing force in the world.

Key Characteristics of the Estado Novo

The Estado Novo was characterized by several key features that defined its nature and impact on Portuguese society. These included authoritarianism, corporatism, nationalism, and colonialism. The Estado Novo was an authoritarian regime that concentrated power in the hands of Salazar and a small circle of his supporters. Political opposition was suppressed, civil liberties were curtailed, and the rule of law was undermined. The regime was characterized by a lack of accountability and transparency, and decisions were made behind closed doors without public input. Corporatism was a central feature of the Estado Novo's economic and social policies. The regime established a system of corporatist organizations that represented the interests of workers and employers. These organizations were controlled by the state and were used to regulate labor relations and promote social harmony. The corporatist system was intended to prevent class conflict and to ensure that the interests of the state were prioritized over the interests of individual groups. Nationalism was a key component of the Estado Novo's ideology. The regime promoted a strong sense of national identity and emphasized Portugal's historical achievements and its role as a civilizing force in the world. The regime used nationalist propaganda to mobilize support for its policies and to suppress dissent. The Estado Novo was also characterized by its commitment to colonialism. Portugal was one of the last European powers to maintain a colonial empire, and the Estado Novo saw its colonies as an integral part of the Portuguese nation. The regime used its colonies as a source of raw materials and cheap labor, and it resisted calls for independence. The colonial wars that Portugal fought in Africa in the 1960s and 1970s were a major drain on the country's resources and contributed to the regime's eventual downfall.

Impact and Legacy

The Estado Novo's impact on Portugal was profound and far-reaching. While it brought a period of relative stability and economic recovery in its early years, it also stifled political freedom, suppressed dissent, and perpetuated social inequalities. The Estado Novo had a mixed impact on Portuguese society. On the one hand, it brought a period of relative stability and economic recovery after the turbulent years of the First Republic. Salazar's economic policies helped to reduce debt, control inflation, and promote investment. The regime also invested in infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and dams, which helped to improve the country's transportation and energy networks. On the other hand, the Estado Novo was a repressive regime that stifled political freedom, suppressed dissent, and perpetuated social inequalities. The regime's censorship policies prevented the free flow of information, and its secret police used torture and other forms of abuse to silence opposition. The regime also favored the wealthy and powerful, and it did little to address the needs of the poor and marginalized. The Estado Novo's legacy continues to be debated in Portugal today. Some people remember the regime as a period of stability and order, while others condemn it for its authoritarianism and its suppression of human rights. The Estado Novo's colonial policies also remain a controversial topic, as Portugal's colonial wars in Africa left a lasting scar on the country's psyche. The Estado Novo was eventually overthrown in the Carnation Revolution of 1974, a military coup that brought an end to the authoritarian regime and ushered in a period of democracy and reform. The Carnation Revolution was a watershed moment in Portuguese history, and it marked the beginning of a new era of freedom and democracy.