Portugal: A Small but Interesting European Country

Once a world-class power with overseas colonies and a complicated monarchical legacy, Portugal is today a small democratic nation on the western edge of Europe and is dealing with the relatively mundane problems of deficits, recession, consumer confidence, business climate, unemployment, educational inadequacies, technological progress, inflation, and governmental reforms. Trade with Brazil and its former African possessions, Angola and Mozambique, is important to the nation as is its status as a founding member of NATO and as a fully fledged member of the European Union. Portugal has plans to improve transportation links with Iberian peninsula neighbor Spain and to expand its international airport just outside the capital, Lisbon. Of its political landscape, let it be said that the complications, intricacies, opportunism, and deviousness innately learned from centuries of monarchical rule have not been entirely forgotten.

Recently, the September 27, 2009 national election returned the Socialist Party (PS) to power but as only a minority government, one with the option to form a governing coalition with right wingers like the newly strengthened Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the People's Party (CDS-PP) or left wingers, including the Communists, the Greens, and the Left Bloc (BE). Jose Socrates, the PS leader, is set to continue as Prime Minister, although a much publicized and probably overblown spat with the current conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva, an adherent of the PSD and up for election in early 2011, is expected to contribute additional animosity to the overall unsettled and occasionally downright nasty political atmosphere. Pervasive speculation suggests that little will be accomplished, whether it be fiscal reform or advancement of social projects, in the coming months as political wrangling consumes the energies of elected officials.

One interesting social initiative has been Portugal's decriminalization of illicit drugs, a program begun in 2001 and ongoing, with no reports of overindulgence by the local population, a surge in drug tourism, any notable increase in addiction rates or in incidence of related problems like HIV infections. Decriminalization does not mean that there are no consequences for drug users, as offenders are directed to appear before so-called dissuasion panels and to enter treatment programs. Drug trafficking has not soared as a result; but it also has not bypassed the country entirely for Portugal remains an important passageway to users throughout Europe.

Another interesting development is a resurrection of the salt trade in the Algarve marshes, a business development aimed at the gourmet market for hand-harvested salt and for the very special flor de sal, a condiment quite different from industrial-grade salt or common table salt. Necton, founded by Joao Navalho, hopes to challenge Guerande, the French brand currently claiming much of the world market for specially produced sea salt.

Perhaps most remarkable for this small country is its interest in and success with renewable energy systems. Wind power, hydro systems, solar photovoltaic installations, and microgeneration setups are advancing in all sections of the country, partially funded with government, industry, and non-profit incentives. In 2008 the Agucadoura Wave Farm, in operation just off the coast in the northern part of the country, began generating electricity. That year also saw several wind parks, including a wind farm with more than a hundred turbines, come online. Research into green energy generation has gained widespread public support.

Although tiny Portugal may be struggling with political issues and the global recession, it still retains the ability and embraces the human capital to deal with exciting ideas, progressive projects and experiments while bearing in mind the future.

Anabela Reis, "Portugal's Socrates Wins Re-election Without Majority", Bloomberg News
"Treating, not punishing", The Economist
Elaine Sciolino, "From a Portuguese Marsh, Salt, the Traditional Way", New York Times
Teresa Simoes, Liliana Madeira and Ana Estanqueiro, "Wind Power in Portugal", IEA Wind