Abstract

MARTINS, Bruna; SILVA, Rui da  and  COELHO, La Salete. The Symbolic Power and the Portuguese Cooperation: An analysis of the role of the language. Cadernos de Estudos Africanos [online]. 2020, n.39, pp.17-30.  Epub June 12, 2021. ISSN 1645-3794.

This article aims to analyse and reflect on the role of the Portuguese language as a symbolic power system in the Portuguese Cooperation. This analysis is focused on the period between 1999 and 2019, based on the different documents published in this period. This article is in some extent a self-reflection, since the authors consider themselves as “critical friends” and not external observers of the Portuguese Cooperation. The article argues that the Portuguese language emerges as a symbolic power system that perpetuates coloniality relationships stemming from the fact that it is a soft power strategy from the Portuguese state, not a development objective.

Keywords : Portuguese cooperation; symbolic power; Portuguese language; coloniality; development cooperation; Portuguese foreign policy.

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