Publication
The Strategic importance of Portugal for the European Union: The Portuguese Geopolitics towards the Atlantic South
| Summary: | Geopolitically, Portugal presents a singular position. It is the westernmost country of Europe, enclosed between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, a feature which could dictate a peripheral position within the European Union. However, Portugal has durable relations with the countries from the Atlantic South, a feature which can dictate a central role within the European Union. This dissertation has the aim of analyzing the geopolitical link between Portugal and the Atlantic South and to contribute to the existing literature by exploring how this relationship can be strategically valuable for the European Union in the 21st century. Throughout this dissertation, we discuss the relevance Portugal can have for the EU utilizing what is called the Strategic Triangle between Portugal, Angola and Brazil (CPLP countries). It is argued that this can contribute to the reinforcement of a geopolitical bridge between the European Union and the Atlantic South. The Atlantic South is amassing greater relevance in the international system: its main actors have now reached not only a pivotal status in their respective regions, but also and an international projection, allowing them to further integrate into influential spaces of the multilateral world system. In this context, it is argued that Portugal can employ its privileged relations with the countries from the Atlantic South in order to enhance progresses towards a more significant European Union – Atlantic South relationship. This investigation follows a comprehensive and holistic approach to Strategy and Geopolitics, building upon various contributions from authors and academics related to these fields of studies. These two core disciplines are seen throughout the research as multidimensional and are applied to the study in order to comprehend Portugal’s role in the world as a state part of the European Union and close to the Atlantic South. |
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| Main Authors: | Jesus, Isaque Apolo da Cruz Lopes |
| Subject: | Strategy Geopolitics Portugal European Union South Atlantic Estratégia Geopolítica Portugal União Europeia Atlântico Sul |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | master thesis |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Summary: | Geopolitically, Portugal presents a singular position. It is the westernmost country of Europe, enclosed between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, a feature which could dictate a peripheral position within the European Union. However, Portugal has durable relations with the countries from the Atlantic South, a feature which can dictate a central role within the European Union. This dissertation has the aim of analyzing the geopolitical link between Portugal and the Atlantic South and to contribute to the existing literature by exploring how this relationship can be strategically valuable for the European Union in the 21st century. Throughout this dissertation, we discuss the relevance Portugal can have for the EU utilizing what is called the Strategic Triangle between Portugal, Angola and Brazil (CPLP countries). It is argued that this can contribute to the reinforcement of a geopolitical bridge between the European Union and the Atlantic South. The Atlantic South is amassing greater relevance in the international system: its main actors have now reached not only a pivotal status in their respective regions, but also and an international projection, allowing them to further integrate into influential spaces of the multilateral world system. In this context, it is argued that Portugal can employ its privileged relations with the countries from the Atlantic South in order to enhance progresses towards a more significant European Union – Atlantic South relationship. This investigation follows a comprehensive and holistic approach to Strategy and Geopolitics, building upon various contributions from authors and academics related to these fields of studies. These two core disciplines are seen throughout the research as multidimensional and are applied to the study in order to comprehend Portugal’s role in the world as a state part of the European Union and close to the Atlantic South. |
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