European destiny, Atlantic transformations : Portuguese foreign policy under the Second Republic, 1974-1992 /

Despite the dramatic transformations in Portugal's foreign relations during the past two decades, no thorough studies are available in English analyzing the evolution of Portugal's foreign policy and its relationship to the internal political and economic changes. Combining a comprehensive synthesis of the historical context with perceptive analysis of the complex links between internal and external developments, this well-written volume provides excellent coverage of several major topics: Portugal's external relations during the 1974-76 "Revolution"; the successful reorientation of Portugal's foreign policy towards Europe and the country's role within the EC; the process of decolonization and the evolving relationship with the former colonies; the implications and adjustments to the end of Portugal's colonial empire; US-Portuguese relations and the role of the NATO alliance in particular; the emerging role of Portugal as a mediator in regional conflicts in its former African colonies and in East Timor. In analyzing foreign policy, the author concentrates on three dimensions: the political-strategic; the trade-commercial; and the psychological-cultural. Well researched and carefully documented, this volume will be appreciated by anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the historical evolution of the Portuguese political culture since 1972 with particular emphasis on its external relations. Advanced undergraduate through faculty. P. Vannicelli; University of Massachusetts at Boston