Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0296/02962.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 10KB | 237 lines

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$Title{Portugal
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$Author{Eugene K. Keefe}
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$Date{1976}
$Log{Map of Portugal*0296201.scf
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Country:     Portugal
Book:        Portugal, A Country Study
Author:      Eugene K. Keefe
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1976

Front Matter

Foreword

     This volume is one in a continuing series of books now being prepared
by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country
Studies-Area Handbook Program. This book, however, is a reprint of a book
written by members of the research staff of Foreign Area Studies, The American
University. The last page of this book lists the other published studies.

     Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country,
describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national
security systems and institution, and the interrelationships of those
systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors. Each study is
written by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists. The authors seek to
provide a basic understanding of the observed society, striving for a dynamic
rather than a static portrayal. Particular attention is devoted to the people
who make up the society, their origins, dominant beliefs and values, their
common interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature and
extent of their involvement with national institutions, and their attitudes
toward each other and toward their social system and political order.

     The books represent the analysis of the authors and should not be
construed as an expression of an official United States government position,
policy, or decision. The authors have sought to adhere to accepted standards
of scholarly objectivity. Corrections, additions, and suggestions for changes
from readers will be welcomed for use in future editions.

Chief
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540

PREFACE

     On April 25, 1974, a military coup d'etat deposed Portugal's government,
which itself had been established after a military takeover forty-eight years
earlier. Marcello Caetano, who was prime minister at the time, had ruled for
six years, but his administration was a continuation of the regime of Antonio
de Oliveira Salazar, who ruled Portugal from the early 1930s to the late
1960s. Both men, however, will be remembered for refusing to face up to the
tide of anticolonialism that was sweeping across Africa during their tenures.
In the post-World War II era, as the former Belgian, British, French, and
Italian colonies in Africa gained independence and became new states and
members of the United Nations, the Portuguese leaders remained adamant about
holding their colonies. Their intransigence eventually led to colonial
warfare, revolution, and decolonization. Portugal not only lost its colonies
but was also impoverished by its long, losing effort to hold them. In mid-1976
the new leaders of Portugal were seeking political stability as a platform
from which to launch economic recovery and social reform.

     The Area Handbook for Portugal is intended to provide a concise,
objective description of Portugal and the Portuguese. The book covers the
historical background and the geography of the country as well as the
principal political, social, and economic aspects of the society. There is an
inherent danger in writing about a country during the time that it is
undergoing a revolutionary experience (six provisional governments, two coup
attempts, and two national elections in two years indicate the mercurial
nature of the revolutionary regime); however, the authors have made every
effort to retain their objectivity while describing the roles played by a
multitude of individuals, parties, and interest groups.

     The spelling of place names in this handbook conforms to the rulings of
the United States Board on Geographic Names except for the use of the
conventional spelling of Lisbon rather than the Portuguese Lisboa. Area
measurements have been given in hectares rather than acres, and all tonnages
are given in metric tons unless otherwise noted.

     This study results from the combined efforts of a Foreign Area Studies
multidisciplinary team of researchers assisted by the organizational research
support staff. The team was chaired by Eugene K. Keefe, who wrote Chapter 1
and coordinated the contributions of the other authors. David P. Coffin wrote
Chapters 12, 13, and 14; Sallie M. Hicks wrote Chapters 4, 5, and 6; William
A. Mussen, Jr., wrote Chapters 8, 9, and 10; Robert Rinehart wrote Chapters 2,
7, and 11; and William J. Simon wrote Chapters 3, 15, and 16. The authors wish
to thank the members of the Portuguese embassy in Washington who have given
assistance and advice. Any errors or omissions, however, are the
responsibility of the authors.

COUNTRY PROFILE

[See Map of Portugal: Europe.]

COUNTRY

     Formal Name: Portuguese Republic.

     Short Form: Portugal.

     Term for Nationals: Portuguese; adjectival form-Portuguese.

     Capital: Lisbon.

GEOGRAPHY

     Size and Location: Approximately 35,510 square miles including the Azores
and Madeira. Continental Portugal occupies about one-sixth of Iberian
Peninsula; bounded on north and east by Spain and on west and south by
Atlantic Ocean.

     Topography: Hills and mountains north of Rio Tejo; rolling plains to the
south.

     Climate: Varied with considerable rainfall and marked seasonal
temperatures in north; dryer conditions and milder temperatures in south.

SOCIETY

     Population: Estimated at 8.9 million in 1976; decreasing trend in 1960s
and early 1970s probably reversed in the 1975-76 period by slowing emigration
and influx of refugees from Africa.

     Ethnic Groups and Language: Marked ethnic and linguistic homogeneity;
dominated by Mediterranean racial characteristics and Latin language roots.

     Religion: Ninety-five percent Roman Catholic; freedom of worship
guaranteed.

     Education: Free and compulsory for ages seven through sixteen; literarcy
estimated at 75 percent.

     Mass Communications: Radio and television facilities owned and operated
by the state. Diversity of opinion protected in government-financed press.
Censorship prohibited.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

     Form: Republic.

     Government: Parliamentary system. Popularly elected president is head of
state; prime minister is head of government.

     Politics: Democratic, multiparty.

     Administrative Division: Twenty-two districts subdivided into
municipalities and parishes (see fig. 1).

     Justice: Legal and judicial system based on Roman law and defined in
Constitution of April 1976. Administration of justice influenced by French
model. Supreme Court of Justice highest tribunal in independent judiciary.

     Major International Memberships: United Nations and many of its
specialized agencies, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OEDC), and European Free Trade
Association (EFTA).

ECONOMY

     General Character: Formerly oligarchic and capitalistic; widespread
nationalization since April 1974 and new constitutional provisions portend
pronounced socialist features.

     Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Approximately US $]10.7 billion in 1973; GDP
per capita, equivalent to US $]1,250, lowest in Western Europe.

     Agriculture: Yields lowest in Western Europe. Contributes about one-sixth
of GDP, employs about one-fourth of work force. Traditional products, cork
and wine, provide significant exports.

     Industry: Contributes about 45 percent of GDP and employs about 35
percent of work force. Major industries are metal and machine products,
textiles, and chemicals.

     Economic Planning: Long-range development planning in abeyance pending
establishment of new constitution