Part
II:
The Portuguese national identity
is unlike many other identities
in the world. It is multifaceted,
and linked to the country’s
history as well as to its
sense of grandeur and cultural
complexity. Because of these
factors, some non-Portuguese
peoples find it difficult
to understand Portugal‘s
mind-set.
In fact, the
Portuguese have been known
to sway toward emotional ties
rather than solely political
or economic ties. They have
been noted for their deep
compassion toward their homeland
and fellow citizens. This
trait can be seen in the country’s
former colonies where Portuguese
descendants continue to consider
themselves to be Portuguese
rather than African, Brazilian,
Chinese, Indian, or Indonesian.
In other words, they continue
to identify themselves with
Portugal rather than assume
non-Portuguese identities.
To some observers
such as Marcus Cheke, the
Portuguese character is “distinguished
by a kind of artless simplicity
that to a sophisticated mind
often appears incomprehensible”
(quoted in Livermore 1953,
43). Hence, to fully understand
the Portuguese mentality one
must first realize that 95
per cent of Portugal’s
population are ardent followers
of the Catholic faith. The
other 5 per cent are either
Jewish, Protestant, or Islamic.
This was true during the 14th
century and is still prevalent
today. Second, the Portuguese
are highly patriotic. There
is a deep fervor among them
for the Portuguese culture,
their homeland, and Portugal’s
rich history as one of the
oldest cohesive nations of
the world. And third, they
have a strong feeling of solidarity
with their families and friends,
a feeling that sometimes breaks
the barriers of rationality.
According to Checke, a Portuguese
can be described as prideful,
sensitive, loquacious, hardy,
honest, religious, and cheerful
(quoted in Ibid., 43).
According to
Cheke, the “swagger
of the Italian, the nervous
vivacity of the French are
alike absent from the Portuguese
national personality, none
of whose aspects is aggressive...”
(quoted in Ibid., 43). In
his view, this culture appears
to lack qualities such as
“the artistic genius
of other Latin peoples, [and]
the mechanical and organizing
abilities of the Anglo-Saxon[s]”
(quoted in Ibid., 43).
Broadly speaking,
the Portuguese character is
hard to describe. It belongs
to a passionate people who
believe whole-heartedly in
the Catholic faith and usually
shape their lives around it.
Richard Ford
has confirmed the above observations
by noting that the Portuguese,
“are free from caprice,
are hardy, patient (passionate),
cheerful, good-humored, sharp-witted
and intelligent; they are
honest, faithful, and trustworthy...they
will follow when well led...they
are loyal and religious at
heart, and full of natural
tact, mother wit, and innate
good manners” (quoted
in Ibid., 45).
Needless to say,
the distinctive characteristics
of the Portuguese have been
developed over time, notably
since the rise of modern Portugal
in the 12th century, at which
time the Portuguese adhered
to the belief that the world
needed to be led by the word
of God as expressed by the
Catholic faith. That was their
commitment even until 1974,
when their 831-year-old dream
was interrupted for a short
while by a Marxist regime.
To all indications, this commitment
is still prevalent in contemporary
Portugal.
Because of all
these considerations, the
contentions of the study appear
valid. One is that the culture
and character of the Portuguese
people may pose serious challenges
to deepening Portugal’s
active engagement in global
politics and world markets.
Yet is also the belief of
the author, that Portugal
probably can address any impending
challenges emanating from
the culture and/or the character
of its people, because it
has been “around the
world,” having become
the beacon of sea trade in
the 15th century.
Portugal
has been producing and exporting
products such as wine, wood
products, ships, olive oil,
textiles and fish for centuries,
currently is increasing its
production. It is privatizing
those industries which directly
will improve the nation’s
domestic economy. Even more
importantly, its geographical
location between the East
and West and its membership
in the European Union (EU),
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), and other international
organizations, including the
United Nations (UN), stimulate
and facilitate its playing
an active role in global politics
and world trade.
TOP
