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Caetano's reforms sink in a sea of contradictions When Marcelo Caetano took over from Salazar as Prime Minister of Portugal, there was widespread speculation that «liberalisation» in the areas of colonial policies, internal economic policies, and the role of opposition would occur. At the same time, it was unclear what the power base inside Portugal for such reforms would be - given the strong role of the ultra-right in the state, corporate, and church machinery - and what the motivation behind such «reforms)) was. Caetano had moved into the top position at a time, when after 40 years of Salazar, some kind of change had to occur. The colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guine were becoming more and more difficult to finance within the rigid and deteriorating economic structures which characterised the latter years of the Salazar dictatorship. This led to increased 18 economic hardship inside Portugal and spurred opposition to overall government policies. Also, in the international sphere it was important for the Portuguese to gain political and military support from abroad for the colonial wars, and to attract foreign capital into the Portuguese and colonial economies. To be successful in all arenas, Portugal needed an image of « change.)) But this was certainly not going to mean a change which altered the power relationship within Portugal or in regard to the colonies. The changes that followed were essentially the verbiage of pacification, to consolidate a slightly more expanded power base. Simultaneous with these «reform)) measures, internal opposition and subsequent repression in the Salazarist manner have continued. The % - • «S *' THE GHOST OF SALAZAR IS STILL AT THE WHEEL political ideology and goals of Caetano and Salazar have been the same. Yet, the methods that Caetano initially attempted to maintain control were more attuned to the internal and external demands of the twentieth century. However, in viewing the past few years, this strategy has not worked. Caetano has turned in retreat. The inevitable hollowness of his reforms have become obvious to the opposition, and pressures from the right have demanded a continued hard line in order to preserve fascism. Portugal under Salazar Portugal was much the same when Sala-
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Title | CENPA-356~20 |
Filename | CENPA-356~20.tiff |
Full text | Caetano's reforms sink in a sea of contradictions When Marcelo Caetano took over from Salazar as Prime Minister of Portugal, there was widespread speculation that «liberalisation» in the areas of colonial policies, internal economic policies, and the role of opposition would occur. At the same time, it was unclear what the power base inside Portugal for such reforms would be - given the strong role of the ultra-right in the state, corporate, and church machinery - and what the motivation behind such «reforms)) was. Caetano had moved into the top position at a time, when after 40 years of Salazar, some kind of change had to occur. The colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guine were becoming more and more difficult to finance within the rigid and deteriorating economic structures which characterised the latter years of the Salazar dictatorship. This led to increased 18 economic hardship inside Portugal and spurred opposition to overall government policies. Also, in the international sphere it was important for the Portuguese to gain political and military support from abroad for the colonial wars, and to attract foreign capital into the Portuguese and colonial economies. To be successful in all arenas, Portugal needed an image of « change.)) But this was certainly not going to mean a change which altered the power relationship within Portugal or in regard to the colonies. The changes that followed were essentially the verbiage of pacification, to consolidate a slightly more expanded power base. Simultaneous with these «reform)) measures, internal opposition and subsequent repression in the Salazarist manner have continued. The % - • «S *' THE GHOST OF SALAZAR IS STILL AT THE WHEEL political ideology and goals of Caetano and Salazar have been the same. Yet, the methods that Caetano initially attempted to maintain control were more attuned to the internal and external demands of the twentieth century. However, in viewing the past few years, this strategy has not worked. Caetano has turned in retreat. The inevitable hollowness of his reforms have become obvious to the opposition, and pressures from the right have demanded a continued hard line in order to preserve fascism. Portugal under Salazar Portugal was much the same when Sala- |
Archival file | Volume24/CENPA-356~20.tiff |