Portuguese democracy is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. Portugal joined the European Union (EU) in 1986, but the enduring legacies of the country’s transition process from authoritarianism to democracy became apparent during the European sovereign debt crisis, when Portugal experienced its third bailout since the institutionalization of democratic government. Although the first decade after EU accession was one of slight growth and investment, Portugal’s economy has, in effect, been performing poorly since the beginning of the 21st century. Among the major changes in Portuga - as in much of Southern Europe - as a result of the ‘great recession’, was the emergence of important new actors, including populist parties, new social movements and the polarization of attitudes toward the EU. In some of these areas, the phrase ‘with the exception of Portugal’ was always present. This book explores the factors that might explain why this is no longer the case, presenting a global overview, with an interdisciplinary focus, of the processes of economic, social and political changes in Portuguese democracy since the 2008 economic crisis.
The volume is accessible to a broad academic audience, with chapters examining economic, political, social and foreign policy issues, for scholars interested in an analysis of Portugal’s emergence from the economic crisis.
Author(s): António Costa Pinto
Series: Europa Country Perspectives
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 262
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
The Contributors
Introduction
1. Portuguese Democracy at 50
2. European Misfit: The Portuguese Economy after EU Membership
3. Social Movements and Political Protests in Portugal during and after the Austerity Crisis
4. European Economic Narratives and the Emergence of a European Public Sphere in Portugal: An Analysis of National Mainstream Newspapers
5. Presidents and Governments in Portugal: Variations on a Constitutional Theme (2008–2022)
6. Patterns of Ministerial Recruitment, Partisanship and Financial Crisis
7. Continuity and Change in Portuguese Politics: Towards a more Polarized Party System?
8. The Populist Radical Right in 21st-Century Portugal
9. Cultural and Religious Diversity in Portugal
10. Portuguese Foreign Policy and Crisis Diplomacy in a Period of German Hegemony: Bandwagoning or Soft Balancing?
11. Portugal’s Role in the EU since 2007: Small State or Equal Partner?
12. Portuguese Participation in the EU PESCO and NATO as an Interoperability Hub
Index
