Colonial Echoes: Portugal's Strained Empire

This chapter examines Portugal's colonial aspirations in the mid-20th century, focusing on its military efforts to maintain territories like Angola and Mozambique amidst rising anti-colonial movements. It critiques the pseudoscientific ideology of lusotropicalism that justified exploitation and highlights the financial and societal strains of colonialism on both the empire and Portugal itself. Through this exploration, the chapter reveals the stark realities of Portugal's colonial practices, including ongoing forced labor and the delusions of benevolence upheld by the regime.