Democracy in Portugal: The role of contentious collective action

Abstract

This article examines political participation in Portugal, distinguishing between institutional mechanisms and contentious forms of engagement. Its aim is to discuss how these repertoires of collective action, considered non-conventional and frequently mobilized by social movements, may contribute to democratic revitalization by expanding the public sphere and exerting pressure for the (re)formulation of policies. Drawing on selected literature and illustrative examples from the Portuguese context, the article offers an interpretive reading of the democratic value of contentious participation.