ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to analyse the role that the Socialist International (SI) and western European Social democratic parties had during the Portuguese democratisation process in the mid-1970s, and how it impacted on the “modus operandi” of the SI in other areas of the world, namely in Latin America. This will be done by focusing on the role that some socialist and social democratic European parties played during the 1970s. In this case, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is particularly relevant, as it was the leading party in the support to the Portuguese socialists, something that was part of its strategy of engagement with the democratisation of Southern Europe.
The Portuguese democratisation process also taught significant lessons for the European socialists. Understanding the importance of having good contacts within the political oppositions as a way for easing the influence of regime change, the Socialist International parties developed strategies of supporting the sister-parties from other dictatorships. This is particularly clear when we observe the Socialist International’s activity in the second half of the 1970s. Clearly influenced by Willy Brandt’s Presidency and his beliefs on the North–South dialogue, the SI will develop a strategy of establishing close contacts with several parties in Latin America. Iberian leaders Mario Soares and Felipe Gonzalez, the highest examples of the success of international party solidarity, were important assets in this strategy.
