The Captains’ Movement and the Genesis of the Portuguese Revolution (1973–1974)

Abstract

The authoritarian Portuguese New State, established by António de Oliveira Salazar, survived the Second World War and the post-war wave of democratisation in Western Europe. The limited liberalisation that began in 1968 under Salazar’s successor, Marcelo Caetano, did not apply to colonial policy. Since 1961, Portugal had been fighting independence movements in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. An open rebellion of younger military officers, initially stemmed from issues related to their treatment but ultimately sought to end these colonial wars. As the government was determined to continue the conflict, the Captains’ Movement, formed in September 1973, began making preparations for a coup d’état. The movement’s political programme envisaged the abolition of the New State, free elections and the establishment of a democratic system. The coup (25 Apr. 1974) was successful, paving the way for democracy after 48 years of dictatorship.