Tag: tom gallagher

Book Reviews

Portugal and the West

BY JAMIE FOSTER From British Ultimatum to Utopian Revolt, 1890-1975: Social Volatility, National Assertion, and Nervous Collapse In the pantheon of contemporary historical scholarship, few works possess the daring revisionist verve and profound erudition of Professor Tom Gallagher’s Portugal and the West: From British Ultimatum to Utopian Revolt, 1890-1975. This is not merely a book; it is a magisterial and sweeping geopolitical exegesis, the culmination of … Continue reading Portugal and the West

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Europe

How Portugal Became Inoculated Against 21st Century Revolution

BY TOM GALLAGHER Portugal is already a year into lavish anniversary commemorations of a revolution that occurred unexpectedly in 1974-75. Perhaps its culminating point was in March 1975 when sweeping nationalisations of industry and banking, as well as land, occurred. It was the most radical advance of state power into the private economic realm seen anywhere in Western Europe since 1945 and, arguably, the Portuguese … Continue reading How Portugal Became Inoculated Against 21st Century Revolution

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scotland

Life in the Highlands, Then and Then

BY HAMISH GOBSON Now that Humble Humza’s world has ended, and Alister Jack has put himself out to pastures new, Scottish politics is heading in a new direction. Since no-one takes Holyrood seriously anymore, the future is green – by which I mean the field of legitimate conflict about the way forward for this country has moved to the green benches of the House of … Continue reading Life in the Highlands, Then and Then

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Books

Europe’s Leadership Famine

BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN Ask anyone but politicians anywhere around Europe what they think of politicians, and you’ll get groans. You’ll also hear words like “low calibre” and “disconnected”. You’ll receive whingeing about “short-termism”, “career politicians” and “reacting only to polls”. There is no coincidence in this. In the Internet age we are all interconnected as never before, and politicians, under far too much scrutiny, are … Continue reading Europe’s Leadership Famine

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History, Politics

Revolutionary Portugal & the Woke Anglosphere II

BY TOM GALLAGHER Portugal during 1974-5 did not lack single-minded zealots.  These radicals, however, were seeking to transform society from a much weaker level of institutional influence. They lacked the means to shift popular consciousness in their direction as shown by the failure of a campaign of ‘cultural dynamization’ launched in parts of rural Portugal by junior officers who strove to liberate peasants from their … Continue reading Revolutionary Portugal & the Woke Anglosphere II

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History, Politics

Revolutionary Portugal & the Woke Anglosphere I

BY TOM GALLAGHER A new book whose English translation is ‘To the Right of the Revolution’, offering a detailed exploration of the resistance to the left-wing Portuguese revolution of 1974-75, prompts the question: why did it fail? It had a lot going for it. The overthrow of an enfeebled authoritarian regime on 25 April 1974 opened up a power vacuum. It was quickly filled by … Continue reading Revolutionary Portugal & the Woke Anglosphere I

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Reviews

Gallagher’s Salazar

BY JAMIE FOSTER An anomaly among modern dictators, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar exemplified the power of a negative personality. He held Portugal in thraldom for more than 40 years, a record of durability unmatched by Francisco Franco, Benito Mussolini or Adolf Hitler, his Fascist counterparts (and good friends). Due to Salazar’s long rule, a detached evaluation of him is difficult. He is considered either a … Continue reading Gallagher’s Salazar

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Books, Europe

The Single-Minded Country Boy

BY TOM GALLAGHER Antonio Salazar was Europe’s longest serving Prime Minister in modern times. I wonder how much this can be ascribed to his farming background? In his 36 years presiding over the affairs of Portugal, this conservative autocrat, never allowed himself to be swallowed up by the bustle and self-importance of its capital, Lisbon. He ran Portugal rather like a punctilious head butler in … Continue reading The Single-Minded Country Boy

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International

Ordinary Spaniards Fuel Conservative Revival

BY TOM GALLAGHER Spaniards head for the polls on 28 April after an election when, for the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1977, a strong Christian perspective is being offered by one of the main contenders. Vox is a national conservative party which argues that Spain must re-embrace common sense after decades when winning the approval of a range of radical minorities, … Continue reading Ordinary Spaniards Fuel Conservative Revival

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Interviews

Tom Gallagher’s England Possessed

Tom Gallagher was an academic for over thirty years, specialising on conflicts of nationalism and ways of reducing their velocity. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Bradford. He lives in Edinburgh and has written 14 single-authored books. Among the most recent was ‘Scotland Now: A Warning to the World (2015). Here Country Squire Magazine’s Dominic Wightman interviews Tom about his … Continue reading Tom Gallagher’s England Possessed

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