Disability politics in Portugal and the colonial war

Abstract

The Portuguese Colonial war was fought between Portugal’s military and the nationalist movements in Portugal’s African colonies between 1961 and 1974. The conflict opposing the Portuguese Armed Forces to the independency movements in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau is crucial to understand the transition to democracy brought on by the Carnation Revolution. Notwithstanding, a manifest silence of Portuguese society as regards to the Colonial War has subsisted during decades. Through the perspective of disabled war veterans this article attempts to recover crucial testimonies valorization of the Colonial War as a historical moment which has left long-lasting marks on Portuguese society. Moreover, this article aims to explore the impact of Colonial War’s disabled soldiers in Portuguese disability policies and politics.