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Portugal and peacebuilding

17/04/2009 By João Portugal Vieira

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This paper by João Portugal Vieira analyses the historical trajectory of Portuguese policies on development aid from a colonial understanding to an European commitment. Within this framework, a special focus is put on explaining the persistence of absence of any autonomous status of the Portuguese policies concerning peacebuilding. In fact, the predominant approach remains that of a case-by-case strategy, followed both by the government and by civil society organisations. 

A relevant change has been introduced in 2006, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started to compile a new coherent and unified strategy for development aid, that for the first time highlights the importance of concepts like peacebuilding, human security and gender issues. The paper closes with conclusions and recommendations designed to help the Portuguese government and NGOs to take these issues to a new level of engagement.

 

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Keywords

Civil society European Union Peacebuilding Portugal Post conflict

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Bio author: João Portugal Vieira

Freelance researcher, editor, event organizer and translator. He has worked for the Peace Studies Research Group of the Social Studies Centre of the University of Coimbra (NEP-CES), FRIDE, the Initiative for Peacebuilding, the Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Portugal (IEEI) and the Centre for European Studies II (CENEUROP II) of the University of Coimbra