Confrontación, violencia política y democratización. Portugal 1975

Abstract

In literature on democratization, the social mobilization and. specially, its radicalization, have been treated as an obstacle to democratic consolidation. In this text we would analyze the intense duel of political demonstrations and counter-demonstrations that took place in Portugal between May and December 1975, when radicalized military directory, allied to the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), threatened with a political take-over despite of the results of the Constituent Assembly elections. This analysis will show that “resistence” mobilization against the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), that included massive marches and more than 80 collective assaults to the PCP’s headquarters, was crucial for the electoral results’conversion on eftective political power. The communication will conclude analyzing the conditions of effectiveness of popular mobilizations and of the importance of conflict escalation strategies in the interaction between movements, counter-movements and authorities.