Memories of the Portuguese Sea:The place of imperial nostalgia in Portuguese identity

This research focus on the construction of Portuguese imperial nostalgia, especially through the Lusotropicalism theory, and the poems of Fernando Pessoa. In it I analyze the Portuguese narrative of colonial history and its place in the Portuguese identity. In order to best understand the development of Portuguese Imperial Nostalgia, and how it affects the Portuguese perspective about its place in Europe and the World, this thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter is a critical reading of the works of Gilberto Freyre, introducing and analyzing his theory and how it became central to the Lusotropicalism embraced by the ‘Estado Novo.’ The second chapter focus on Nostalgia and the influence of Fernando Pessoa’s works, analyzing how the Salazarism’s Lusotropicalism was adapted into a contemporary form of imperial nostalgia within the context of the democratization of Portugal. The last chapter discuss how the narrative of imperial nostalgia affects Portugal both...Show moreThis research focus on the construction of Portuguese imperial nostalgia, especially through the Lusotropicalism theory, and the poems of Fernando Pessoa. In it I analyze the Portuguese narrative of colonial history and its place in the Portuguese identity. In order to best understand the development of Portuguese Imperial Nostalgia, and how it affects the Portuguese perspective about its place in Europe and the World, this thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter is a critical reading of the works of Gilberto Freyre, introducing and analyzing his theory and how it became central to the Lusotropicalism embraced by the ‘Estado Novo.’ The second chapter focus on Nostalgia and the influence of Fernando Pessoa’s works, analyzing how the Salazarism’s Lusotropicalism was adapted into a contemporary form of imperial nostalgia within the context of the democratization of Portugal. The last chapter discuss how the narrative of imperial nostalgia affects Portugal both internally and externally, showing how imperial nostalgia became central to Portuguese society and identity, as the official narrative recentered Portuguese self-perception around the poetic nostalgia of their past glories and empire. Consequently, this national nostalgia is so prevalent that even when rejected by a percentage of the population, it still lead many others to embrace their connection to their former empire. This created a division in focus that makes Portugal, despite the country being an integral part of Europe, unwilling to truly embrace the unification and aspirations of the continent.Show less

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Memories of the Portuguese Sea:The place of imperial nostalgia in Portuguese identity