Colonial War and Books: The Role of Political Edition in the Debate on the Portuguese Colonial Project and the Carnation Revolution

Abstract

Some political books edited in the final stage of the Estado Novo in Portugal played an important role in opposing the regime and denouncing the crimes, arbitrariness and violence committed by the dictatorship of Salazar and Caetano. The publishing of these books even during the dictatorship represented an important factor of contestation and resistance, and grew enormously after the 25th of April. Among these books were works on the colonial war and Portuguese colonial policy in the 1960s-70s. Despite all the difficulties imposed by censorship, there were several editions that contested this policy and denounced the causes and violence of the colonial war. This article discusses the work of some publishers who published such books, highlighting some works denouncing the colonial war, seeking to understand their role in the opposition movement that was gaining strength at that time. It also aims to show how these works played a role in the political debate on this central theme in Portuguese history.

Keywords: Books and the Colonial War in Portugal. Colonial War. Carnation Revolution. Political Edition. Political Books.