Who Was Antonio Oliveira Salazar, the Professor of Dictators

Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970), who ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968, or more appropriately referred to as its dictator, can be considered the most educated among leaders labeled as dictators, and he was exceptionally well-versed in economics. His primary focus in governance was to ensure the country's financial stability.

Salazar's Background

Similar to Stalin's case, Salazar's family initially wished for him to become a priest. The Church, recognizing his potential, played a significant role in his development. When priests noticed Salazar's interest in money, they decided that he wasn't cut out for priesthood. Instead, they sent him to study at the country's finest university. This decision proved to be right, as Salazar eventually rose to become a professor of economics at the university.

In the 1920s, Portugal was economically struggling. The President sought to appoint Salazar as Minister of Finance to navigate the country out of this crisis. However, Salazar had conditions; he demanded superpowers for himself. Initially, these powers were not meant for him to take a direct role in governance. He simply wanted to implement his desired policies swiftly. In fact, upon arriving in Lisbon, he boldly stated, "If I don't return on the first train, then I won't return at all." In 1928, when Salazar was appointed as Minister of Finance, Portugal was on its way to becoming an economic dictatorship focused on fiscal stability.

Initially, working conditions, labor rights, unions, and related matters were put on hold. Salazar proved those who believed in him right, and soon the country's debts were paid off, and a balanced budget was achieved. Finally, in 1932, President Carmona, in recognition of these efforts, appointed Salazar as Prime Minister. Initially, with the support and affection of the people, Salazar was determined to preserve the economic order, or the "miracle" he had created, at any cost. However, as Portugal's coffers filled, freedoms began to dwindle. Salazar drafted a new constitution, at the core of which was a single-party system. Those wishing to engage in opposition were visited by Salazar's secret police, PIDE.

Salazar quickly donned the dictator's hat with his new style of governance, oscillating between authoritarianism and otoritarianism. He openly admired Mussolini and was influenced by the policies of his neighbor Franco. In this regard and in his actions, he is often likened to Franco. He consistently supported Franco during the Spanish Civil War. Although he sought to remain independent during World War II, he did not neglect to provide support to the Allies under the table. Clever policies were implemented during World War II because he knew that supporting the Nazis would lead to the loss of his colonies. Salazar's philosophy was that he would give up his life, but not his colonies.

The reason for this was that Portugal was the world's third-largest colonial power at the time. This power brought both prestige and immense wealth economically. Portugal gained a significant income from its colonies. This reinforced Salazar's obsession with the economy. Furthermore, by allowing 50,000 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis to pass through his country, he garnered favor. This aspect also shows that Salazar was not as antisemitic (anti-Jewish) as the Nazis he supported.

World War II ended, and a new war, the Cold War, began. Salazar shifted his focus towards the West and was accepted into the United Nations. The love of his life, however, remained his colonies. First, he lost his colonies in India, followed by those in Africa. As he fought to hold onto them, he became more and more entrenched. In the process of decolonization, he had no intention of letting go of these colonial countries. The United Nations' stance on this isolated Salazar's country politically in the global community. Domestically, unrest began because the increasing military expenses to suppress rebellions in the colonies were impoverishing the population. The extension of compulsory military service to four years in Portugal led to a decrease in support from both the Catholic Church and the public. The number of draft dodgers was rapidly increasing. During the colonial wars, some generals within the army also began to turn against Salazar. According to them, the Prime Minister was squandering the country's resources for a war they could not win.

Carnation Revolution

When Salazar fell from power due to a stroke in 1968, or according to some, when he fell in his bathtub, his end was in sight. He was removed from office by the President and replaced by Marcelo Caetano. Salazar spent his final years out of the public eye and passed away in 1970. However, until the very end, he believed he was still the Prime Minister, giving orders to those around him. When the dictator was gone, a certain softening of the climate in the country was observed. First, he, and then the regime he had established, came to an end. Left-wing officers carried out a bloodless coup known as the "Carnation Revolution," sweeping away the remnants of Salazar in Portugal. After two turbulent years, the country transitioned to liberal democracy and integrated into Europe.

While the Salazar era is often described as conservative, rigid, and fascist, he was not as vehemently racist as contemporary fascist dictators. Salazar was referred to as a "light" fascist. Salazar left a lasting legacy with the 3 F's rule.

What are the 3 F's? When asked how workers would address their issues after closing unions and civil society organizations, Salazar is said to have remarked, "Let them manage with the 3 F's." The widely accepted statement attributed to Salazar is, "I governed Portugal for 36 years with 3 F's." Although the controversy surrounding whether Salazar actually said this persists, it became synonymous with him.

So, what are these 3 F's? The 3 words starting with the letter F that Salazar referred to when he said he governed with the 3 F's are: fiesta, fado, and football. In other words, he implied that he kept the people sedated for many years with these three elements and continued his rule.

Salazar, who transitioned horizontally from an economics professor to a dictator, always had a distinct persona. His attire resembled that of a gentleman rather than a typical dictator. He didn't engage in gestures like embracing children or cutting citizens' cheeks, as traditional dictators did. Salazar had a cold and distant demeanor. He was never one to be overly talkative. Furthermore, he never married in his personal life. He didn't consume alcohol or smoke. It is known that he grew tomatoes at his residence to save expenses. Salazar was known for being rather frugal. Despite all this, he managed to stay in power for an impressive 36 years, surpassing dictators like Hitler and Mussolini. In Angola, 80,000, in Mozambique, 63,000, and in various other countries, 15,000 people became victims of those who resisted Salazar's winds of change. In short, Africa bore the brunt of the suffering once again...