Europe and Liberal Democracy is a podcast that explores how Europe became the world biggest center of democracy in the post 1945 world. In our first season we look at the first time that the European Union and related organizations were able to bring and stabilize democracy, with Portugal's Carnation Revolution in 1974 and its aftermath.
In this episode, the final one of our first season, I discuss democratic consolidation in Portugal between 1975 and 1976. Additionally, I talk about the defeat of the Communist Party. I finish up with a discussion of how Europe today is changed by the extraordinary involvement of the EEC in keeping Portugal democratic and how that remains important today.
Bibliography:
Constitute Project. "Portugal 1976 (rev. 2005) Constitution." Accessed May 26, 2026. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005 (https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005).
European Council. "Conclusions of the European Council, Brussels, 16-17 July 1975." Archive of European Integration. July 1975. https://aei.pitt.edu/1427/1/brussels_july_1975.pdf (https://aei.pitt.edu/1427/1/brussels_july_1975.pdf).
Story, Jonathan. "Portugal’s Revolution of Carnations: Patterns of Change and Continuity." International Affairs 52, no. 3 (July 1976): 417–33. https://doi.org/10.2307/2616554 (https://doi.org/10.2307/2616554).
The New York Times. "Aid to Portugal Expected." October 2, 1975. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/02/archives/aid-to-portugal-expected.html (https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/02/archives/aid-to-portugal-expected.html).
The New York Times. "Portugal Quells Military Revolt." November 27, 1975. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/27/archives/portugal-quells-military-revolt-casualties-light-security-chief.html (https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/27/archives/portugal-quells-military-revolt-casualties-light-security-chief.html).
29 May 2026
Portugal and the Carnation Revolution Part 2
In this episode, I begin by discussing the Carnation Revolution itself. Next, I discuss the political dysfunction that comes after the coup. Additionally, I talk about the issue of the colonies for the new Portuguese government, whose main goal was to end colonial wars. Through all of this I mention the huge influence Europe had on Portugal throughout this whole experience.
Bibliography:
Giniger, Henry. "Portugal’s Socialist Party Pulls out of Government." The New York Times, July 11, 1975. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/11/archives/portugals-socialist-party-pulls-out-of-government-portuguese.html (https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/11/archives/portugals-socialist-party-pulls-out-of-government-portuguese.html).
Maxwell, Kenneth. "The Consolidation of Political Democracy in Portugal: Some Unanswered Questions." Portuguese Studies 5 (1989): 161–77. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41104887 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41104887).
Rodrigues, Luís Nuno. "António de Spínola and the International Context of Portuguese Decolonization." Luso-Brazilian Review 50, no. 2 (2013): 93–117. https://doi.org/10.2307/43905285 (https://doi.org/10.2307/43905285).
The New York Times. "Portugal on the Brink?" August 9, 1975. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/09/archives/portugal-on-the-brink.html (https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/09/archives/portugal-on-the-brink.html).
The New York Times. "Portugal’s Army Seizes Control and Proclaims Democratic Goal; Caetano’s Surrender Announced." April 26, 1974. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/26/archives/protugals-army-seizes-control-and-proclaims-democratic-coal-at.html (https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/26/archives/protugals-army-seizes-control-and-proclaims-democratic-coal-at.html).
29 May 2026
Portugal and the Carnation Revolution Part 1
In this episode, I set the stage for the beginning of the Carnation Revolution. I bring 3 main causes:
Diplomatic Repression in Portugal under Salazar with the PIDE
War in the Colonies
Financial Pressure from the European Economic Community
I then talk about the leadup to the coup itself
Bibliography:
Fishman, Robert M. "What 25 April Was and Why It Mattered." Portuguese Studies 34, no. 1 (2018): 20. https://doi.org/10.5699/portstudies.34.1.0020 (https://doi.org/10.5699/portstudies.34.1.0020).
Gallagher, Tom. "Controlled Repression in Salazar's Portugal." Journal of Contemporary History 14, no. 3 (1979): 385–402. https://www.jstor.org/stable/260013 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/260013).
Story, Jonathan. "Portugal's Revolution of Carnations: Patterns of Change and Continuity." International Affairs 52, no. 3 (July 1976): 417–33. https://doi.org/10.2307/2616554 (https://doi.org/10.2307/2616554).
Wikipedia. "Estado Novo (Portugal)." Accessed May 25, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estado_Novo_(Portugal) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estado_Novo_(Portugal)).
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