For almost fifty years, Portugal was ruled by a right-wing dictatorship. There was a military coup against Portuguese democracy in 1926. Antonio Salazar became the leader of the so-called Estado Novo in the same year Franklin Roosevelt entered the White House. His successor Marcelo Caetano was still in power when Richard Nixon was re-elected four decades later.

Then, in April 1974, a group of junior army officers made a plan to overthrow the dictatorship. The Carnation Revolution brought down the Estado Novo and kick started a period of intense political upheaval. Its legacy can still be felt in Europe half a century later.

Raquel Varela, professor of history at the New University in Lisbon and author of several books, including A People’s History of the Portuguese Revolution, joins Long Reads for a discussion about the upheaval and its legacy.

Read Raquel's 2019 interview with Jacobin: https://jacobin.com/2019/04/portugal-carnation-revolution-national-liberation-april

Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine’s longform writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies, music by Knxwledge.

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