Portugal's Political Development A Comparative Approach

Portugal's early developmental experience created a highly centralized administrative state that continues to have a powerful influence on the nature and style of the country's government and politics. Emphasizing this theme, Dr. Opello shows that, contrary to the conclusions of scholars who have analyzed Portugal from Latin American or Third World perspectives, Portuguese political development is more comparable to the pattern of development of West European countries, especially France. He compares Portugal's political experience with that of other West European countries and concludes by speculating about the future of Portugal's fledgling democracy.

Westview Special Studies -- Introduction: Why Portugal? -- Historical Background: Crises and Sequences in the Evolution of the Portuguese Nationstate -- The New State: The Instauration and Collapse of Authoritarianism -- April 25, 1974: The Golpe and Period of Exception -- The Party System: The Political Archaeology of Portuguese Parties -- Elections: Socio-Economic Ecologies and Voting Behavior -- The 1976 Constitution: Cycles in Portuguese Constitution Making -- The Policy Process: Making the Administrative State Responsive to Democracy -- Local Government: Political Culture and Structure -- Conclusion: Whither Portugal?

Walter C. Opello