Beyond the Uniform: The Militarisation of Portuguese Youth in the Estado Novo

Abstract

This article examines the militarisation of Portuguese youth under the Estado Novo regime, with particular emphasis on the role of the Mocidade Portuguesa (Portuguese Youth) uniform as a tool of propaganda and social control. Adopting a historical and sociological approach, the study examines the creation, objectives, and organisational structure of the Mocidade Portuguesa. It offers a descriptive and interpretative analysis of its uniform, focusing on its symbolism and the military influences embedded in its design. The findings reveal that the uniform functioned as a key instrument in promoting a collective identity and in instilling values such as discipline, obedience, and self-sacrifice. The study compares the Mocidade Portuguesa with other contemporary youth organisations — namely the Hitler Youth, the Falangist Youth, and the Opera Nazionale Balilla — and examines the specific features of the Mocidade Portuguesa Feminina (Portuguese Female Youth), demonstrating how the organisation reinforced traditional gender roles. The analysis concludes that the Mocidade Portuguesa and its uniform played a central role in the Estado Novo’s strategy of youth indoctrination and authoritarian nation-building.