The institutionalisation of a new social policy in the Portuguese estado novo. The struggle for a corporatist welfare (1933-1945)

Abstract

This article intents to debate on the goals of the social policy and institutions of fascist regimes. Taking the concept of fascism on a broader scale and not exclusively the Italian fascist experience, this analysis focuses on the Portuguese New State’s corporatist regime. Considering that in the interwar context corporatism was a way of building specific and authoritarian social policies, this article puts in evidence the institutional Portuguese structures for welfare and discusses its instrumental goals. Comparing the Portuguese experience with other corporatist systems, was there a corporatist welfare? Was it a new social policy connected to economic modernization and able to compete with the democratic Welfare State? These key-questions are answered by analyzing the contradictions of the Portuguese corpo-ratist welfare system, its lack of universality and non-connection with social rights.