International congress centred on the geostrategic international role of the Azores Archipelago after World War I. Call for paper open until 31 August.

WW I – III Congress

The Portuguese Republic after WW I: the Azores, centrality and communications in the North Atlantic

Initially supported by the popular masses, the Portuguese First Republic was marked by social, political and economic instability, and a weak participation in World War I. The period from 1910 to 1926 was characterized by a partisan struggle for power, political and social agitation. Improvements since 1923 were not enough to counteract the growing discontent stimulated by intellectuals; a persecuted Church; an army and civil service without resources and an economically oppressed industry. The coup of May 28, 1926, put an end to this democratic regime starting a new cycle that, despite maintaining the previous political instability, prepared the Estado Novo, under the control of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, interrupted in April 25, 1974. Between 1910 and 1974, the Azores were deeply marked by the Autonomy but mostly by Salazar’s Republic, and by the technological communications or sea/air connections across the Atlantic. The archipelago became a common element in the centre of the Western Civilization, in the heart of the League of Nations. Between World Wars, the Azores saw a technological race, receiving American, German, English, French, Italian and Polish, as well as Portuguese, air and sea experiences. The establishment of airmail and passenger services by Zeppelins or Airlines such as Lufthansa or PAN-AM complemented the geostrategic importance of the Azores during the first half of the twentieth century, with repercussions in the second half, with two international airports and harbours, or radio stations (among others). Trade and immigration marked this century in a process that, after World War I, continued during World War II and Cold War.

>> Programme <<

Call for papers (📎 download PDF)

The organising committee calls for proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

– The maritime and terrestrial dimension, in the World Wars and Cold War;
– Portugal and the Azores in international politics (1910 – 1974);
– Political-ideological metamorphoses of the Autonomy and the Republic between 1910 and 1974.
– The Atlantic and communications;
– Air, naval and submarine warfare;
– The pioneers of Aeronautics in the Atlantic;
– Infrastructures: ports, airfields, sea plane bases and airports;
– Naval, military, civil aeronautics and Air Forces (1952);

Submission of proposals: 05 June 2019 to 31 August 2019.

Please send your identification (name, institutional affiliation and email address), the title of the communication, abstract (maximum 700 words) and cv (1 page) to the following e-mail:  azoreswar@gmail.com

Working languages: Portuguese and English (there will be no simultaneous interpretation).

For facilities on air transport, see https://azoresgetaways.com/uk

Organising Committee

Ana Paula Pires, IHC — NOVA FCSH
Rita Nunes, Comité Olímpico de Portugal / IHC — NOVA FCSH
Manuel Marchã, Museu Militar dos Açores

Scientific Committee

Carolina García Sanz, Universidade de Sevilha
Inês Queiroz, IHC — NOVA FCSH
Maria Inês Tato, Universidade de Buenos Aires
Teresa Nunes, IHC — NOVA FCSH / Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa
António Paulo Duarte, IHC — NOVA FCSH / Instituto da Defesa Nacional
Sérgio Rezendes, IHC — NOVA FCSH

Honour Committee

Susana Goulart Costa, ex.ª Diretora Regional da Cultura
Carlos Henrique Lopes Rodrigues, ex.º Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Vila do Porto
José António Croca Favinha, ex.º Comandante da Zona Marítima dos Açores
Vítor Manuel Meireles dos Santos, ex.º Comandante da Zona Militar dos Açores

Image: Domingos Rebelo (1891-1975), O Público, watercolour and China ink on paper, s./d. [ca. 1926], A 32 x L 50 cm. MCM6223).