Paper short abstract:

The aim of the paper is to show how specific social groups use contested urban spaces to impose their vision of the past. This issue is of particular importance in post-dictatorial societies. In Portugal, it also enables to discuss memory politics related to decolonisation.

Paper long abstract:

The aim of the paper is to show how specific social groups use the contested urban space to impose their vision of the past. This issue is of particular importance in post-dictatorial societies. In Portugal, it also enables to discuss memory politics of veterans associations related to decolonisation.

The Portuguese Estado Novo was abolished by the Revolution on 25th of April 1974. The colonial wars in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique that had started in 1961 were also ended and power was subsequently handed over to the independence movements.

It is often said, that speaking publicly about the colonial war in Portugal was (and still is) a taboo. That this is only a partial truth is shown by the example of the Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar. Opened in 1994 by President Mário Soares, the monument represents the power of veterans associations to seek for official recognition and to construct places for commemorating collective events.

Besides this particular example, there are other places, parks and buildings in Lisbon were social actors articulate their memory politics regarding the legacy of the Estado Novo.

Consequently, the purpose of the presentation is not only to explore the memory politics related to the Portuguese colonial war inscribed into urban space but also situate them within other efforts and controversies that intend to come to terms with the past.