Marcelo Caetano and his circumstance towards leadership: symbolic power, ambition and adaptation

Abstract

This article presents a model of symbolic power accumulation to explain Marcelo Caetano’s political career and his progressive ambition towards the leadership of the Portuguese Estado Novo. This new model, with a reflexive and sociological basis, is applied to our case through an exercise of historical reconstruction of Marcelo's political path from his entrance in the corridors of power until his ascension to leadership in 1968. The article develops new theoretical arguments about the careers of political leaders and their objectives of obtaining political and social capital, especially the importance of accumulation of symbolic power in highly ideological and charismatic authoritarian regimes like the Estado Novo. Its main objective is to present a more sophisticated and relational vision of Marcelo Caetano's political path, namely by explaining the dilemma of charismatic succession with which he had to confront himself, and to contribute to the accumulation of theoretical and historical knowledge about the Portuguese authoritarian regime.