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Silveira, Laura

This thesis aims at analyzing the Carnation Revolution through a novel angle—one that centers the long-term decolonization process in Africa as a key driver of the revolution itself. While the revolution was sparked by the push for decolonization, historiography tends to downplay this aspect, prioritizing its democratization narrative. This study instead examines Mozambique’s decolonization as a long-term process that continued beyond formal independence, shaped by dayto-day decisions, and deeply intertwined with the revolutionary transformation set in motion by the Carnation Revolution. This thesis highlights contradictions in Portugal’s approach through case studies of diplomatic, cultural, and infrastructural disputes with Mozambique. The breakdown of air traffic between TAP and DETA symbolized deeper struggles over economic and territorial sovereignty, reflecting how decolonization extended beyond diplomatic agreements into everyday infrastructures. Nationality laws emerged as a central battleground, shaping post-independence negotiations and redefining post-colonial belonging. Ultimately, this thesis grounds our understanding of the Carnation Revolution. It approaches the Revolution as an ongoing process, implemented through a series of decisions made by various revolutionary actors, each navigating the shifting realities of political chaos as best they could. This approach reveals the deep intertwinement of Portuguese decolonization and democratization. Studying the Carnation Revolution as a series of concrete decisions taken by revolutionary actors reveals how reality and practical considerations forced compromise onto revolutionary principles. The process of decolonization forced compromises, revealing the limits of revolutionary principles when confronted with political and logistical constraints. These were not abstract dilemmas but grounded, immediate challenges that had to be addressed in real time, with no blueprint to follow. At its core, the Revolution attempted to reconcile democratization with decolonization, yet the two were not always compatible.

Text

University of British Columbia. HIST_V 449

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0448978

Arts, Faculty of; History, Department of

Undergraduate

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