Portugal's democracy turns 50
Portugal’s 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution prompts reflection on how recently fascist rule, colonial wars, and political prisons persisted in Western Europe, and how unevenly those systems benefited ordinary people. Commenters connect Portugal’s experience to broader patterns: the long tail of European and US colonialism, Russia’s war in Ukraine as attempted re‑colonization, and the European Union’s role in stabilizing formerly authoritarian states. Many express concern that rising far‑right movements in Europe and the US show how quickly democratic gains can erode when economic hardship, fear, and scapegoating return.
Legacy of Portuguese Fascism and Colonialism
- Commenters note how late Iberian fascist regimes and colonial wars persisted, with Portugal fighting colonial wars into the 1970s.
- Several argue colonialism largely benefited elites (e.g., landowners in Africa), while ordinary Portuguese endured stagnation and emigration.
- There’s debate over Portuguese pride in the imperial past: some say there’s little self‑reflection; others defend pride as historically “normal,” meeting pushback that “others did it too” is no basis for pride.
Colonialism’s Ongoing and Non-European Forms
- Users extend the discussion to Chechnya, Western Sahara, South African apartheid, Israel–Palestine, Indonesia in Papua, and France’s role in Africa.
- Some frame Russia’s wars (Chechnya, Ukraine) as classical or re‑colonizing projects; others argue Russia is driven by security/ideology rather than colonial economics.
- There is disagreement over whether Russia is replacing French influence in Africa with another exploitative presence, or pursuing mutually beneficial ties with the “Global South.”
European Union, NATO, and Russia–Ukraine
- One line of argument sees the EU as a post‑colonial peace and power project: if Europe can’t dominate abroad, it must integrate internally.
- Others stress the EU’s development benefits for poorer members (e.g., Eastern/Southern Europe), contrasting it with historical empires and rejecting the idea it is “neo-colonial.”
- A long subthread disputes causes of the Ukraine war: NATO expansion vs Russian imperial ambition; whether Maidan was a US‑backed coup or an uprising; and whether Donbas was a civil war or entirely manufactured by Russia.
Rise of the Far Right and Fragility of Democracy
- Multiple comments warn that Portugal’s far‑right gains fit a broader European/North American pattern of nationalist, racist populism.
- Explanations include economic hardship, fear, and “us vs them” psychology.
- Comparisons are drawn to the 1930s, with warnings how quickly democracies can unravel and how recently fascism and apartheid ended.
Commemoration, Memory, and Museums
- An iconic Carnation Revolution photo is discussed, with context about the siege at Largo do Carmo.
- Visitors praise Portuguese museums (e.g., political prison sites) for confronting torture and colonialism, though some sites (like Tarrafal camp) are said to be neglected.