Afriche e Orienti, 19(3)

The article examines the European Community’s stance vis-à-vis the Portuguese colonial rule in Africa in the early 1970s. It highlights the EC’s attempt at asserting itself as a political actor on the international stage, paying special attention to emerging human rights issues. While the EC was trying to present itself as an opposer of colonialism, the study explores the ambiguous and sometimes contradictory stances of some of its member states, particularly France, Britain, and Germany, with regard to Portugal’s colonial policies.