In this Editorial to the Special Issue, Góis, Oliveira and Gaspar offer a critical exploration of international migration, particularly in the Portuguese context. They challenge traditional perspectives, arguing that simplistic dichotomies are inadequate to understand the complexities of migration and integration. The authors delve into Portugal’s changing migration landscape, advocating for an appreciation of the diverse motivations and experiences of migrants. Emphasizing the need for inclusive, multicultural policies, the article highlights the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity within migrant communities. Central to the discussion is the interplay between knowledge, politics and migration policies. The authors analyse the influence of institutions in shaping public perception and policy formulation, stressing the need for a nuanced approach in migration studies. The challenges in measuring immigrant integration are addressed, with a focus on the multifaceted nature of integration within sociology. The article also tackles the complexities of racial categorization in the context of migration, emphasizing the fluidity of identities and calls for more inclusive approaches to understanding racial dynamics. Through its critical examination of migration phenomena, the article aims to enhance understanding and inform the development of more effective and inclusive migration policies.
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The coup of the ‘Movimento das Forças Armadas’ (MFA; ‘Armed Forces Movement’) was based on low-ranking officers in the army. As it is well known, the conspiracy and the bulk of the action on 25 April was carried out mainly by one of the military branches, the army, while the others, the air force and the navy, had modest operational participation. In the case of the navy, the modesty of its place in the conspiracy and the coup itself can be contrasted with its strong role in the later revolutionary period (1974–76). This article results from broader research on the structuring, course and role of a political organization of military (naval) officers, in the context of a Transition to Democracy through revolutionary means. The article focuses on the navy’s MFA in 25 April and the previous Organização Clandestina de Oficiais da Armada (OCOA; Clandestine Organization of Naval Officers), led by Martins Guerreiro, Almada Contreiras and Miguel Judas. The article will try to contextualize what was the OCOM, which role it played in the conspiracy, on 25 April 1974 and in the days immediately following. One can perceive the weight of the OCOM in those days through their attention to the Programme of the MFA and their intervention on the ground. Additionally, their contribution was decisive to the aesthetics of 25 April and the symbolic storming of the ‘Bastilles’, an unequivocal sign of the end of the New State, an open door to many other changes and movements.
Through the case of Montemor-o-Novo, a municipality of the rural interior of southern Portugal, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon of emigration to Switzerland, Germany and France that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. We identify the causes and obstacles to the departure of young adults, situating them within the economic and political reality of the Alentejo region and the country as a whole. We explore the immigration destinations of Portuguese people to the light of the various migration policies of these countries. Additionally, we analyse the challenges faced by immigrants in the host countries and how they overcame them, as well as the type of work in which they engaged. We outline the motivations for returning to Portugal and the reasons for the ongoing connection they maintain with their country of immigration. Finally, we endeavour to assess the socio-economic impact of emigration on national life and to contextualize the national migratory phenomenon within the broader European socio-economic landscape.
Housing has always been a key component of social inequalities, as housing comfort conditions have largely depended on household socio-economic status. However, little is known about how housing inequality relates to sociopolitical attitudes and behaviours. This article aims to examine this relationship by exploring the association between housing conditions and trust in political, public and private institutions. It does so through an exploratory analysis of data from two Portuguese nationwide surveys on housing conducted in 2018 (N = 1222) and 2021 (N = 848). The results highlight the significance of housing conditions, housing affordability and (in)security, including the accessibility and services of neighbourhoods, in determining people’s trust in institutions. This study thereby provides evidence supporting the pivotal relationship between housing inequality and social cohesion and calls for future research to better understand this connection.
Biobanks for clinical research collect human biological samples and associated data for biomedical research. The establishment of biobanks in Portugal is still an understudied phenomenon, although there are signs of a growing trend in setting up these repositories to support biomedical research. Among other factors, individuals’ willingness to donate samples and public trust in biobanks play a crucial role in sustaining biobanking activities. In this article, we analyse public attitudes in Portugal towards biobanking, based on data from the biotechnology survey conducted by Eurobarometer in 2010. Different assumptions about science and technology enabled profiling the Portuguese population into four distinct groups: the optimistic, the cautious, the sceptical and the pessimistic. Each profile implies a diverse range of intentions and attitudes regarding biobanks. Furthermore, we found that previous study of science could be an important predictor of the willingness to donate information to biobanks.
Regular exercise helps to mitigate psychological issues during stressful conditions, such as the COVID-19 lockdown. Since the mental health impact depends on the duration of social isolation, we aimed to characterize exercise routines and mental health after the first and second Portuguese COVID-19 lockdowns. A total of 27 Portuguese amateur athletes (AA, n = 11) and fitness enthusiasts (FE, n = 16) participated in a semi-structured interview. The results showed that both FE and AA experienced negative symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, fatigue and saudade) during the first lockdown, which were reported as both barriers to and motivators for physical activity. Both groups managed to adapt to changes in daily schedules, the closure of sports facilities and a lack of social support by modifying their exercise routines. Strategies such as using music and social media networks were employed to enhance motivation and self-perception. We can conclude that mental health issues served both as barriers to and motivators for physical activity, and exercise was a valuable tool for overcoming the psychological consequences of the two lockdowns.
Review of: The Captain’s Coup: From Dictatorship to Democracy in Portugal (1974–1976), Daniela F. Melo and Timothy D. Walker (eds) (2025) London: Verso, 352 pp., ISBN 978-1-80429-836-7, h/bk, £25
This study aims to analyse, through a case study, how European higher education alliances involving Portuguese public institutions reflect the European integration process and operationalize related concepts in their mission and strategic documents. Using a qualitative case study approach, we analyse the content of key institutional documents-particularly their mission statements, produced by the selected alliances. Through a thematic content analysis, we identify core themes and sub-themes such as 'Governance, Mobility', 'Digitalization', 'Research and Innovation', 'The European Market' and 'European Citizenship'. These dimensions offer analytical insights into the values, strategies and objectives, articulated by the alliance, as well as how they position themselves externally and differ among each other. Our findings suggest that the concern for building a common European identity among the different members of the alliances is a central aspect of these institutions, which materializes mainly at the symbolic level, i.e., in the reinforcement of European values.
This study investigates the perceptions of young university voters in Portugal regarding political parties' concerns about socio-economic issues and their preferences for state budget distribution. Utilizing a case study approach, we examine the relationship between young people's priorities in state budget allocation and their perceptions of political parties' positions on the left-right spectrum. Our findings reveal that young people generally perceive left-wing parties as more concerned with socio-economic issues, while right-wing parties are seen as being more focused on economic efficiency and national security. Furthermore, we observe gender differences in these perceptions, with young men leaning towards right-wing parties and young women towards left-wing parties. By analysing the relationship between young people's budget priorities and their perceptions of political parties, this study contributes to the understanding of youth political engagement and representation in Portugal. The insights gained from this research can inform policy-makers and educators in fostering a more inclusive and responsive democratic system that addresses the needs and preferences of young citizens.
This article examines the transformation of the Barcelos rooster from a Portuguese national emblem into a hybrid cultural symbol in postcolonial Macau. Originally associated with rural and Catholic values during Portugal's New State (Estado Novo) regime, the rooster has been recontextualized following Macau's handover to China in 1999, emerging as a symbol of Macau's hybrid identity as a Special Administrative Region (SAR). Incorporated into tourism and branding strategies, the rooster exemplifies cultural adaptation and commodification processes. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of cultural memory, hybridity and material culture, this study underscores how Macau utilizes its colonial heritage to position itself as a cultural and economic bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Through ethnographic fieldwork between 2012 and 2024, the article analyses the rooster's evolving role in tourism imagery while critically engaging with the selective appropriation of colonial legacies. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how historical symbols are reconfigured within postcolonial identity formations.
This article explores various aspects of the migration of science, including the circulation of scientific knowledge and the productivity of individual scientists. The first part of the article examines concepts that have helped define scientific employment, emphasizing the idea that a scientist's work should align with an episteme. The second part scrutinizes this situation in Portugal, shedding light on two specific developments: the recent expansion of the scientific workforce and the outputs emanating from national research institutions. This includes a brief statistical overview of the levels of expansion in financial terms and an exploration of the success of scientific publishing using data derived from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and national statistics agencies. Data reveal that while the number of works produced has increased at a time during which greater numbers of scientists were being contracted, especially the decade preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of their work may have declined due to a lack of peer recognition, illustrated by a sharp decline in the number of citations received. This suggests that greater investment in science, specifically in recruiting fixed-term contract researchers, has not necessarily
International Retired Migration (IRM) is a growing phenomenon worldwide, including in Portugal. However, there has been no psychological research to date that examines the association between acculturation strategies and adaptation outcomes among this specific group of migrants. It is unclear whether they exhibit similar patterns compared to other migrant groups. This article investigates the acculturation strategies adopted by 131 international retirees currently living in Portugal, as well as their psychological and sociocultural adaptation outcomes and their perceptions of prejudice due to their advanced age and foreigner status. We expected that some of the assumptions from the acculturation literature might not hold true, given the unique characteristics of this group, including their age and lifestyle changes associated with retirement. Confirming our hypothesis, the study found that integration was the strategy associated with the highest levels of psychological and sociocultural adaptation. However, contrary to our expectations regarding the specificities of this population, separation was the strategy linked to the lowest levels of psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Furthermore, the marginalization strategy did not lead to the worst adaptation outcomes, as the literature often suggests for similar populations.
This article aims to critically discuss racial categorizations by problematizing (1) their nature, namely through an ontologically based discussion; (2) their genealogy, using a historically oriented critique and (3) the problems posed by their current applications, which means taking into account their identificatory breadth. Consequently, the article advances three overarching claims that question the use of racial categories: (1) they represent the legacy of a complex system institutionalizing the notion of race, which initially led to economic separation and subsequently pseudo-scientifically categorized populations for the purposes of subjugation and exploitation; (2) even with the provision for self-identification, the employed categories are those that sustained a colonial structure, and the apparent autonomy implied by the suffix ‘self’ effectively aligns with these existing structures in operational terms and (3) they run counter to the prevailing trend embracing multiplicity and the ‘trans’ suffix as a means of transcending hyphenated identities.
Throughout the twentieth century, the intensification of migration flows prompted an increasing focus by academics and policy-makers on fostering the integration of immigrants in receiving societies. This emphasis also led to discussions on the feasibility of measuring and monitoring integration. Numerous policies addressing migrant integration gained a sound conceptual foundation, reshaping knowledge production through interaction with policy-making and expanding data collection and analysis. Integration is a key illustration of potential reflective dialogue between research, policy and measurement. Nevertheless, publications that relate these three approaches of integration – theoretical, political and statistical – are scarce, primarily due to limited communication between these fields in most countries, a lack of covenant between theoretical, political and methodological concepts and indicators, and the multidimensional and dynamic nature of migrant integration. This article seeks to contribute to this debate, focusing on Portugal, a relatively ‘new’ immigration country recognized for having one of the world’s best integration policies, albeit without a historically rooted national integration model. This article examines the evolution of research–policy–statistics relationships and structures since the 1990s concerning migration and integration. It explores the foundations of the co-production of common operational concepts in theory, policy-making and statistical indicators, seeking a more comprehensive understanding and less dichotomized appropriation of these concepts. This article intends to promote reflection among policy actors, practitioners, scholars and statisticians regarding their actions and interactions in the context of the complexity of migrant integration. It also contributes to the research landscape by conceptualizing the intricacies of immigrant integration while assessing whether mainstreaming, rather than alienation, characterizes Portugal’s approach to organizing and guiding these processes.
The official annual data on pupils of immigrant origin published by the Portuguese Directorate-General of Education and Science Statistics primarily focus on the citizenship of pupils, excluding those with Portuguese citizenship of immigrant origin or host country citizenship (descendants of immigrants). To address this limitation, this article employs microdata from Directorate-General of Education and Science Statistics of the Ministry of Education and Science (DGEEC/MEC), incorporating information on the pupils' and parents' countries of birth to identify descendants of immigrants. The study covers all pupils in Portugal enrolled in basic (primary and lower secondary) and secondary (upper secondary) education during the 2018-19 academic year in state schools of continental Portugal, aiming to explore the impact of different social categories on the academic performance gap among native, immigrant and pupils of immigrant origin. The analysis includes categories based on citizenship status and birthplace of pupils and parents, along with subcategories related to generational status and type of ancestry. The findings reveal previously unknown differences in academic performance among pupils with an immigrant background in Portugal, challenging traditional understandings. Notably, considering only the citizenship of the pupil underestimates the representation of pupils of immigrant origin, second-generation pupils often exhibit comparable or superior academic paths and pupils with parentage of mixed origin, especially those with a native parent, demonstrate a significant advantage in academic performance.
This article presents a narrative review about the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youths in Portuguese schools. The Portuguese context and social climate towards LGBTQ people were presented and a review of existing legislation, policies and interventions focusing on LGBTQ youth was conducted. Results from social science research with this population were examined and complemented with data from a recent survey. Pervasiveness of prejudice and discrimination and the concurrent need to manage the visibility of LGBTQ identities both in school context and in the family were confirmed. Support from school is not always guaranteed, and evidence of anti-bullying policies that explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity is still scarce. Some implications for future practice and research are drawn.
Ageing is increasingly at the centre of both local and international politics and policies. However, the attention on the intersection of ageing and sexual diversity has remained largely absent from research agendas in the Portuguese context. This article addresses issues of care and intimacy experienced by self-identified lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people over the age of 60 both before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Portugal. The article is divided into four sections. In the introduction, the main issue addressed will be an explanation that draws on a theoretical framework informed by both LGBTQI+ and ageing and life course studies. The second section gives a necessarily brief overview of the socio-legal context of LGBTQI+ issues in Portugal and provides information regarding methodological aspects of the research. The third section explores experiences, prior and during the pandemic, of older adults who self-identify as LGB in the Portuguese context. Accompanied by excerpts from interviews originally carried out in 2019 and 2020, this section is structured around three topics: pandemic 2.0.; isolation and relational loneliness and health and care networks. The last section discusses the current impact of ageing and of ageism on older LGB adults, while also offering recommendations for future policy and scholarly work.
This article reviews Portugal’s path in addressing non-normative gender identities, focusing particularly on legal gender recognition. While recognition is not limited to enshrining rights in the law – especially the right to the acknowledgement of (self)identity by the state – the legal step is one that is clearly fundamental to making overall recognition a reality. Portugal is an interesting case study, having shifted in less than a decade – the second of the twenty-first century – from a complete absence of trans issues in legislation to the passage of a law on gender identity based on self-determination. Using analysis of legislation and interviews of trans people and representatives of the LGBTQI+ movement conducted during two research projects spanning the last fifteen years, we analyse the macro-level transformations and how they are reflected, at the micro-level, in the trans people’s inclusion in or exclusion from legal recognition, and in the extension of this basic condition of citizenship.
Focusing on trans and gender-diverse people in five European countries (Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Sweden), the Transrights research addressed one of the most challenging transformations of the institutional order of gender that thus far still reproduces the normative opposition between male and female. Rather than proposing a descriptive monograph, our angle of analysis emphasized the workings of gender through the ‘voices’ of trans people (within and beyond Europe) and their complex forms of self-identification vis-à-vis the institutional apparatus (whether legal, medical, political or even social-scientific). Drawing on an extensive empirical research that combined document analysis of legal and medical developments, multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews, we investigated the doings of gender and gender politics. Three major findings are highlighted and summarized through a comparative strategy: trans/gender identifications, creative agency and embodiments; institutional and legal recognition vis-à-vis the medical apparatus and the “marketization” of trans-related healthcare; and discrimination, oppression and violence.
