Anarchism
emerged and developed amidst the social unrest in
industrial societies. It was, in many countries, a
genuinely popular movement shaped by a political
philosophy drawn from the writings of both
intellectuals and self-taught individuals.
Some
eighty years ago, Portugese libertarians were
organized under the banner of syndicalism. This
movement deeply marked the history of Portugal.
Freedom Fighters examines anarchist ideas and how
these arrived in Portugal, and how the anarchist
program gained popularity with both the working class
and intellectuals, people who believed in the slogan
'with neither God nor master.'
This
fascinating history is traced from the beginning of
the 20th century through the Spanish Civil War and
the Second World War. The role of the anarchists
during Salazer's dictatorship is examined with much
previously unknown documentation. Of particular
interest is the history of the anarchists during the
1974 'Carnation Revolution' and during Portugal's
emergence as a contemporary liberal democracy.
Freedom
Fighters is now, and will remain for a long time, a
necessary book to any who look to do new research on
the subject.
--Miguel Serras Pereira, Pśblico, Lisbon
A
coherent and solid work on Portuguese anarchism.
--Alfredo Margarido, Anais, Lisbon
Freedom
Fighters fills a large gap in
the history and sociology of Portugal. Much of the
analysis and documentation presented in this
important work will help the contemporary reader to
understand Portugal today.
Table of Contents
Joćo Freire
is a professor of Sociology at the University of
Lisbon.
216 pages,
photographs
Paperback ISBN: 1-55164-138-0 $24.99
Hardcover ISBN: 1-55164-139-9 $53.99
History
May 2001
