Liberalism and democracy in nineteenth-century Portugal, from a comparative perspective (1832-1895)

Abstract

The article discusses the political evolution in Portugal, comparing it with those of closer European countries, in the period 1832-1895. It distinguishes a phase of liberal reforms, breaking with the Old Regime, in favor of freedom, followed by another phase of democratic reforms, starting in the 1870s, for greater equality among citizens. Portugal has evolved along with the average of compared countries, reaching a relatively advanced level of political solutions, such as voting rights and freedom of the press, which contrasts with the backwardness of certain social indicators, such as illiteracy. This evolution reflects the political ascendancy of the middle class, especially of state officials