Portugal's Foreign Policy and Shelter Theory: A Case Study

Abstract

This thesis deals with Portugal’s foreign policy and shelter theory. By adopting the methodology of a case study and relying on a data collection from the literature and conducted interviews, this research endeavor sought to analyze Portugal’s main foreign policy vectors of the democratic period, namely: the EU, NATO/US, and the CPLP. It was found that Portugal has received comprehensive political, economic, and societal shelter provided by the EU, and that the latter stands as Portugal’s main shelter provider. Portugal’s relationship with NATO/US has provided comprehensive political shelter; however, limited economic shelter from the 1990s onwards, and comprehensive societal shelter within the Azores region, though limited at the national level. Portugal’s relationship with the CPLP and its countries has provided only limited political, economic, and societal shelter. Rather, it is Portugal that has been providing most CPLP countries with shelter. Portugal provides a unique case in the small state literature in which a small state simultaneously acts as a recipient of shelter and as a shelter provider within different geopolitical contexts. Therefore, the case of Portugal challenges the traditional assumption that small states are rather passive actors in international affairs. Portugal, as a small state, is not only provided with shelter, but also provides shelter to other states.