Portugal: Particulars of the Portuguese Intelligence Services Teresa Rodrigues & José Duarte de Jesus When we refer to the particulars regarding the Portuguese Intelligence Services, the first factor to keep in mind is that during the forty years of Estado Novo (the political regime that lasted from 1933 to 1974) Portuguese Intelligence Services were mainly an instrument serving a Dictatorship. After the Carnation Revolution of 1974, they were obliged to become an instrument serving a democratic state: the old enemies were the future political opponents. The second particular is that Portugal was involved in thirteen years of colonial war in Africa. We should also keep in mind that France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium negotiated the independence of their colonies in Africa or in Asia, during the forties, fifties, and early sixties. Portugal’s Prime Minister, Salazar (1932-1968), and his successor, Marcello Caetano (1968-1974), decided against the general opinion prevailing in Europe, to maintain the war. Only in 1975, after the Revolution, the independence of all colonies (called Overseas Provinces during the Estado Novo) were negotiated. During the “Estado Novo”, defending the colonies as a crusade 'against communism’ became the focal point of the Portuguese foreign policy and, consequently, became the main subject of its intelligence. In order to explain each of these particulars this text is divided into five parts. ‘The years before 1945’ describes the background of the Portuguese Intelligence Services from the beginning of the 20 th century until WWII and underlines the importance of each police body used by different political governments. The times lasting from 1945 to 1974 are referred to as ‘Times after WWII’, and during the forty years of Estado Novo the Intelligence was mainly