Late Portuguese colonialism, research, and propaganda in Africa: the promotion of territorial occupation and architectural infrastructure by the General Agency for Overseas

Abstract

After the Second World War, the Portuguese government was pressurised by international institutions to withdraw from its colonial territories in Africa and Asia. By way of resistance, the Estado Novo government reinforced the role of the Agência Geral do Ultramar [General Agency for Overseas] as an institution of propaganda, research, and financing of colonial projects. Defending its colonial practices, Portugal became isolated in the international realm. As such, the country aimed to produce more scientific knowledge to inform its decisions on infrastructural projects in the colonial territory. This is how the practices of urbanism and architecture were also regarded as areas of action for the Agency. Trained in London and Madrid, among others, technicians, architects, and engineers were employed by the Overseas Ministry to serve at the Gabinete de Urbanização Colonial [Overseas Planning Office]. Founded in 1944, this agency sought to optimise planning decisions and architectural production in the colonial territory. At the same time, the General Agency for Overseas sponsored publications, such as the Boletim Geral das Colónias/Ultramar [General Bulletin for the Colonies/Overseas], which disseminated the knowledge and experience architects had acquired in the field. In addition, research in areas such as medicine, climate, or agricultural and mineral resources informed decisions on the settlement of Europeans in Africa, and on the territorial infrastructure required to organise transportation networks, settlements, and climatic solutions for building. This article aims to establish whether the General Agency for Overseas actually encouraged the production of more scientific knowledge through its facilities. It also aims to examine the role of the Agency as one of the main active agents, and not only as a propaganda vehicle, in the colonisers general plans.