In the 1920s, António de Oliveira Salazar was a full professor at the University of Coimbra, already recognized by the deep knowledge of his discipline. During this period, the proposal came to occupy the position of Rector, a prestige position that many would want. Salazar refused, justifying himself with a famous phrase: “Before governing a country than a university.”
The phrase reveals more than ambition: it shows a clear perception of the academic environment. The University of Coimbra was not just an educational institution; It was also the scene of discreet rivalries, prestigious games and inflated egos. Many teachers moved by personal interests and alliances, and the management of the institution could become a minefield of intrigue. Assuming the rectory would imply navigating this complex world, something Salazar decided to avoid.
Teacher, historian and author
Mesmo recusando a Reitoria, permanecia atento ao que se passava à sua volta. As tensões entre faculdades, a forma como se resolviam conflitos de prestígio e a necessidade de negociar espaços de influência eram cenários que Salazar observava com clareza
During this period, he was aware of the university’s internal dynamics. He knew that apparently neutral decisions could depend on informal agreements between influential teachers, and that the position of Rector often placed those who held him at the center of discreet pressures, disputes and alliances. Choosing not to take office allowed him to maintain autonomy and move away from power games, focusing on academic work without exposing himself to tensions that could condition any decision.
Coimbra, in the 1920s, was a city where tradition mingled with small disputes of influence. Between college councils and private meetings, some decisions on nominations or appeals were made outside the official instances, in discreet conversations between groups of teachers. Salazar knew these gears and maintained distance from them, aware that academic life had its own policy, invisible to those who looked only at buildings and classes.
Even refusing the rectory, he remained attentive to what was happening around him. The tensions between colleges, the way conflicts of prestige were resolved, and the need to negotiate spaces of influence were scenarios that Salazar observed clearly. This understanding of the academic environment shows that his choice was not just about avoiding responsibilities, but about realisticly evaluating the risks and complexities of assuming a role that, at first glance, seemed only honorable.
Also read:
