Marcello Caetano, a biography (1906-1980)

• Grant number: 17/21268-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Books published abroad
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: November 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Modern and Contemporary History
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Carlos Palomanes Martinho
• Grantee: Francisco Carlos Palomanes Martinho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prime Minister Marcello Caetano was the successor of António de Oliveira Salazar. Considered the second most important figure ofthe Portuguese dictatorship (the Estado Novo regime), Caetano has generated considerable disagreement amongst scholars with regard to his persona and politics; some consider him more authoritarian than his predecessor, others more liberal. After providing background on his childhood and entry to university, the authorexplains his growing activism in the ntegralismo Lusitano and in the Catholic Church; his ollaboration with the journal Ordem Nova; and his monarchist and nationalist ideology. Caetano's decision to support the Salazar Regime coincided with publications in the mainstream media on corporatism, colonialism, Europeanpolitics and the relationship between Brazil and Portugal. His role in the office of General Secretary of Mocidade Portuguesa (MP), an organization of Portuguese youth similar to the fascist youth organizations in Italy or Germany, was at odds with his neutrality policy in the Second World War. Joining the União Nacional (the single party of the regime) and the Câmara Corportiva (a parliament for corporative interests) led to national recognition at a time when the Portuguese regime had to reform its colonial policy.The ideological tensions between right and left resulted in his political demotion and devotion toward the University. As Rector of Lisbon University he supported universities' autonomy, dividing public opinion. Caetano's Presidency (beginning in September 1968) reflected the tense relationship between the government andthe liberal wing on the colonial crisis. Ultimately this led to the final crisis of the New State regime; the fragmentation of the armedforces; and the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974. During his exile between 1974 and 1980 Caetano maintained correspondence with his Portuguese friends. These correspondences are ofexceptional importance in understanding Portugal's contemporary political history. (AU)