Meeting point for researchers dedicated to the study of communism in its many dimensions, from the political history of communist movements and parties to the analysis of the intellectual and cultural dimensions.

Montanhas, Baldios e Comunismo em Portugal

Communisms — Lisbon Research Seminars on History and Politics

This session will allow us to learn more about the struggles and organisation of people in the centre and north of Portugal — particularly farmers — in their relationship with the history of anti-fascism, revolution and democracy, themes to which Paiva had already dedicated his book ‘O Despertar das Montanhas’ [The Awakening of the Mountains] (2020).

About the speaker:
Vasco Paiva accompanied the struggles of the people of the wastelands and the farmers from 1973 onwards and we will revisit the books he has written on the subject. We’ll also talk about Vasco’s biographical career as a militant, having been a member of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) since 1969, having gone underground as an official in 1972 and having been a member of the PCP’s Central Committee from 1976 to 2000. As a Forestry Engineer, Vasco Paiva worked as a project analysis technician and, since 2000, he has specialised in nursery plant production in Portugal and Mozambique. Vasco Paiva was recently awarded the Júlio Fogaça 2023 Prize by the Lisbon Academy of Sciences for his book ‘O Desbravar dos Caminhos’ [Clearing the Paths] (2023).

About the seminar:
Communisms — Lisbon Research Seminars on History and Politics
The seminar is a meeting point for researchers dedicated to the study of communism in its many dimensions, from the political history of communist movements and parties to the analysis of the intellectual and cultural dimensions associated with it. The seminar also welcomes research on communism by political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, and other social scientists. Organised by researchers from the Institute of Contemporary History at NOVA University Lisbon, the seminar is open to researchers from universities and independent researchers from anywhere in the world. Researchers wishing to present their work at the seminar should send proposals to the following e-mails: jneves@fcsh.unl.pt, azoffmann@fcsh.unl.pt, giuliastrippoli@fcsh.unl.pt. The sessions will take place in different locations around Lisbon.

Coordination: Arturo Zoffman Rodriguez, Giulia Strippoli, and José Neves.

Imagem: © João Vasco Paiva