Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

7.9. Multiculturalism in Portugal

Steps are being taken to protect multiculturalism in the Portuguese Republic, which has a population of 10.5 million. The country is combating racial, religious and ethnic discrimination. The Portuguese government is implementing special measures in education, culture, the economy and other areas in order to create an inclusive society*.

Unlike the Republic of Azerbaijan, Portugal has traditionally been a country of emigration. The active wave of emigration from Portugal dates back to the age of geographical discoveries starting in the late 15th century. This process continued in subsequent

Section III

Chapter 7

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  An inclusive society is one that respects and values the diversity of others. It unites
  

all people on the basis of equal rights, irrespective of race, religion, nationality, lan-	451
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periods and about two million Portuguese emigrated to Brazil and the United States from the mid-19th to the middle of the 20th century.

In the late 1950s, emigration from Portugal increased to meet the growing demands and expanding labour market in Northern and Central Europe. Over the next 15 years, emigration from Portugal continued apace for both economic and political reasons (more than 1.5 million emigrants). Some of the emigrants left Portugal as a result of the dictatorial regime in the country in 1926-74.

Waves of immigration alongside emigration have also shaped cultural diversity in Portugal at different times. At the end of the 15th century, the city of Lisbon was known for its cultural diversity. The geographical location of the city made it attractive for merchants and travellers from England, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. In the first half of the 16th century, Lisbon was the European city with the greatest number of inhabitants of African descent (10 per cent of the population).

Many researchers have called Portugal a ‘country of immigration’ since 1993. The flow of immigrants into the country has continued to grow since that time. While natural­ movement within the country has decreased, migrants have become a key component of the total population.

In 2000-10, the flow of migrants to the country from South America, particularly Brazil, increased from 17 to 28 per cent. During that period, the number of arrivals from Asian countries (mainly China) increased from 2.8 per cent to 6 per cent. On the contrary, the number of migrants from Portuguese-speaking countries decreased from 44 per cent to 24 per cent.

Portugal has had a unique form of religious diversity throughout its history. In a country where the Catholic Church dominates (about 90 per cent of the population are Catholic), people of different faiths and beliefs live side by side in peace.

Recent waves of immigration have been instrumental in the development of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Orthodox Christian communities.

Azerbaijani multiculturalism has been able to open the doors of Portugal, as another leading European country. On 15 February 2016, a branch of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre was established at Lusófona University in Lisbon, Portugal. The head of the representative office is Teresa Damásio, professor at the university.