The structural pessismism of the Portuguese

Miguel Gaspar analyses the results to a study according to which the Portuguese are proud of their history but are doubtful about their future. "The way we talk about ourselves is like a diagnostic: we resemble manic-depressives swinging between euphoria and depression. But, come sun-down, only the sad side remains. It is as if the party did not deserve a place in our memories because of its ephemeral nature. ... The authors of the study tell us that being Portuguese is something that is assumed with pride, but hesitantly. They are very proud of their past, but not of current times. The likes of Vasco de Gama and Luis de Camoes are to be found in history... As for the present, according to the researchers, there is no motive to be proud of the way the economy or democracy work. If this is the case, it can be said that the Portuguese are proving somewhat lucid. ... We have been observing our society through a decadent prism for a long time. Will we one day be able to conquer our deep-set, structural pessimism?"

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