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played key role

  • 1 играть главную роль

    Универсальный русско-английский словарь > играть главную роль

  • 2 роль рол·ь

    играть важную роль — to play / to take an important role (in)

    играть главную роль — to play the chief role / part, to play first fiddle

    отвести кому-л. роль — to assign smb. to the role (of)

    повысить чью-л. роль — to enhance the role of smb.

    принять на себя (какую-л.) роль — to assume the role

    раздувать (чью-л.) роль в чём-л. — to puff up (smb.'s) role in smth.

    это не играет роли — it is of no importance, it does not signify / count

    Russian-english dctionary of diplomacy > роль рол·ь

  • 3 Rolle

    f; -, -n
    1. roll (auch Geld-, Papier-, Tabakrolle etc.); (Draht-, Taurolle) coil; (Papyrusrolle) roll, scroll; Rolle Garn reel of cotton, Am. spool of thread; Rolle Film roll of film; Rolle Pfefferminz roll of peppermints; eine Rolle Münzen a roll of coins
    2. (Walze) roller, cylinder; an Möbeln: castor; von Flaschenzug: pulley; ein Nachttisch auf Rollen a bedside table on castors
    3. Turnen: roll; Rolle vorwärts / rückwärts forward / backward roll
    4. fig., umg.: völlig von der Rolle sein have lost one’s grip on things; SPORT have completely lost one’s touch; ihr Tod hat ihn total von der Rolle gebracht he went completely to pieces after her death
    f; -, -n; THEAT. und fig. role, part; kleine Rolle small ( oder bit) part, minor role; führende Rolle lead; seine Rolle lernen learn one’s part ( oder lines); die Rollen eines Stückes besetzen cast a play; ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen lesen have a play-reading; die Rolle ist ihr auf den Leib geschrieben the part could have been written for her ( oder suits her down to the ground); er ist in seiner Rolle völlig aufgegangen he was completely taken over by the role; fig. he became completely absorbed in his task; eine Rolle spielen fig. play a part ( oder role) (bei, in + Dat in); eine große Rolle spielen fig. play an important part ( oder role); Person, Firma: auch be a key player; in einer Firma etc.: be in an influential position; eine untergeordnete Rolle spielen fig. play a subsidiary role, be less important; sich mit der Rolle des Zuschauers begnügen be content to be a mere spectator; eine klägliche Rolle spielen oder abgeben cut a poor figure; er spielt gern eine Rolle pej. he likes to be involved ( bei in); er gefällt sich in der Rolle des... he likes playing the...; sich in der Rolle der Hausfrau etc. ( nicht) wohl fühlen (not) feel at home in the role of a housewife etc.; Spiel mit vertauschten Rollen reversal of roles; das spielt keine Rolle it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t make any difference; Geld spielt keine Rolle money is no object; aus der Rolle fallen step out of line; stärker: forget oneself
    * * *
    die Rolle
    (Gerolltes) roll; coil;
    (Spule) spool; reel;
    (Theater) part; person; role;
    (Walze) roller
    * * *
    Rọl|le ['rɔlə]
    f -, -n
    1) (= Zusammengerolltes) roll; (= Garnrolle, Zwirnrolle) reel, bobbin (spec); (= Papierrolle) reel; (= Urkunde) scroll

    eine Rolle Garn/Zwirn — a reel of thread

    eine Rolle Bindfaden — a ball of string

    eine Rolle Toilettenpapier — a toilet roll, a roll of toilet paper

    eine Rolle Drops — a tube of fruit drops

    eine Rolle Filma roll of film; (im Kino) a reel of film

    2) (= kleines Rad, Walze) roller; (an Möbeln, Kisten) caster, castor; (an Flaschenzug) pulley; (= Gardinenrolle) runner

    von der Rolle sein (fig inf)to have lost it (inf)

    3) (SPORT, AVIAT) roll

    eine Rolle machento do a roll

    eine Rolle vorwärts/rückwärts — a forward/backward roll

    4) (THEAT, FILM fig) role, part; (SOCIOL) role

    es war ein Spiel mit vertauschten Rollen (fig)it was a situation where the roles were reversed

    ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen lesento read a play with the parts cast; (in Schule) to read a play with the parts given out

    der literarische Kreis liest jeden Dienstag ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen — the literary circle has a play-reading every Tuesday

    in der Rolle von jdm/etw auftreten — to appear in the role of sb/sth

    in der Rolle des... (fig)he likes to think of or see himself in the role of the...

    sich in die Rolle eines anderen versetzen (fig)to put oneself in sb else's place

    eine Rolle spielen — to play a part in sth; (Mensch auch) to play a role in sth

    als Lehrer hat er eine klägliche Rolle gespieltas a teacher he was not up to much or he left much to be desired

    es spielt keine Rolle, (ob)... — it doesn't matter (whether)..., it doesn't make any difference (whether)..., whether... doesn't come into it

    aus der Rolle fallen (fig) — to do/say the wrong thing

    5) (dial = Wäschemangel) roller iron
    * * *
    die
    1) (a person in a play, novel etc: Rosencrantz is a minor character in Shakespeare's `Hamlet'.) character
    2) (a character in a play etc: She played the part of the queen.) part
    3) (the words, actions etc of a character in a play etc: He learned his part quickly.) part
    4) (a person's share, responsibility etc in doing something: He played a great part in the government's decision.) part
    5) (a wheel over which a rope etc can pass in order to lift heavy objects.) pulley
    6) (a part played by an actor or actress in a play etc: He is playing the rôle of King Lear.) rôle
    7) (the actions or functions of a person in some activity: He played the rôle of peacemaker in the dispute.) rôle
    8) (a part played by an actor or actress in a play etc: He is playing the rôle of King Lear.) role
    9) (the actions or functions of a person in some activity: He played the rôle of peacemaker in the dispute.) role
    10) (anything flat (eg a piece of paper, a carpet) rolled into the shape of a tube, wound round a tube etc: a roll of kitchen foil; a toilet-roll.) roll
    11) (a small solid wheel or cylinder on which something can be rolled along.) roller
    12) (a round wheel-shaped or cylindrical object of wood, metal etc on which thread, film, fishing-lines etc can be wound: a reel of sewing-cotton; He changed the reel in the projector.) reel
    * * *
    Rol·le
    <-, -n>
    [ˈrɔlə]
    f
    1. (aufgewickeltes Material) roll; (um Hohlkörper gewickelt) reel esp BRIT, spool esp AM
    Tapete wird in \Rollen verkauft wallpaper is sold in rolls
    eine \Rolle Draht a reel [or spool] of wire
    eine \Rolle Film a roll [or BRIT reel] [or spool] of film
    eine \Rolle Garn a reel of cotton BRIT, a spool of thread
    eine \Rolle Toilettenpapier a roll of toilet paper, a toilet roll BRIT
    2. (zu einer Röhre verpackte Gegenstände) roll; (in fester Verpackung) tube
    eine \Rolle Eurostücke a roll of one euro pieces
    eine \Rolle Kekse a [round] packet of biscuits
    eine \Rolle Pfefferminzbonbons a roll of mints
    eine \Rolle Smarties® a tube of Smarties®
    3. (Laufrad) roller; (an Möbeln) castor, caster; (Flaschenzug) pulley
    wir können das Klavier nur auf \Rollen verschieben we'll need to move the piano on rollers
    4. (Turnübung) roll
    eine \Rolle vorwärts/rückwärts a forward/backward roll
    eine \Rolle machen to do a roll
    5. DIAL (Wäschemangel) mangle, wringer
    6. KOCHK (Nudelholz) rolling pin
    7. (im Radsport) roller (on a pacing motorcycle)
    8. FILM, THEAT role, part
    er war sehr gut in der \Rolle des Königs he was very good in the part of the king
    sie gefiel sich in der \Rolle der Heldin she liked playing the role of the heroine
    in der \Rolle von jdm auftreten to appear in the role of sb
    mit verteilten \Rollen with each role cast
    sie lasen das Stück mit verteilten \Rollen they read the play with the parts cast
    9. (Beteiligung, Part) role, part
    in der Situation waren die \Rollen vertauscht it was a situation where the roles were reversed
    jds \Rolle bei etw dat sb's role [or part] in sth
    ich sehe meine \Rolle bei diesem Projekt als Organisatorin I see my role in this project as an organizer
    in jds \Rolle schlüpfen (fam) to slip into sb's role [or the role of sb]
    sich akk in jds \Rolle versetzen to put oneself in sb's place
    10. SOZIOL role
    ein Ehe mit streng verteilten \Rollen a marriage with strict allocation of roles
    sie weigerte sich, die traditionelle \Rolle der Frau zu übernehmen she refused to take the traditional woman's role
    11.
    seine \Rolle ausgespielt haben to be finished
    aus der \Rolle fallen to behave badly
    von der \Rolle kommen (fam) to get left behind, to lose ground
    [bei etw dat/in etw dat] [für jdn] eine \Rolle spielen to play a role [or part] [in sth] [for sb]
    das spielt doch keine \Rolle! it's of no importance!, it doesn't matter!
    das spielt jetzt keine \Rolle that does not concern us now
    das Alter spielt natürlich eine wichtige \Rolle of course, age plays an important part [or role]
    Geld spielt bei ihr keine \Rolle with her money is no object
    es spielt keine \Rolle, ob/wie... it doesn't matter whether/how...
    * * *
    die; Rolle, Rollen
    1) (Spule) reel; spool
    2) (zylindrischer [Hohl]körper; Zusammengerolltes) roll; (SchriftRolle) scroll

    eine Rolle Bindfaden/Zweieurostücke/Kekse — a reel of string/roll of two-euro pieces/[round] packet of biscuits

    3) (Walze) roller; (TeigRolle) rolling pin
    4) (Rad) [small] wheel; (an Möbeln usw.) castor; (für Gardine, Schiebetür usw.) runner
    5) (Turnen, Kunstflug) roll
    6) (Theater, Film usw., fig.) role; part; (Soziol.) role

    [bei jemandem/einer Sache] eine entscheidende Rolle spielen — be of crucial importance [to somebody/for something]

    es spielt keine Rolle — it is of no importance; (es macht nichts aus) it doesn't matter

    * * *
    Rolle1 f; -, -n
    1. roll (auch Geld-, Papier-, Tabakrolle etc); (Draht-, Taurolle) coil; (Papyrusrolle) roll, scroll;
    Rolle Garn reel of cotton, US spool of thread;
    Rolle Film roll of film;
    Rolle Pfefferminz roll of peppermints;
    eine Rolle Münzen a roll of coins
    2. (Walze) roller, cylinder; an Möbeln: castor; von Flaschenzug: pulley;
    ein Nachttisch auf Rollen a bedside table on castors
    3. Turnen: roll;
    Rolle vorwärts/rückwärts forward/backward roll
    4. fig, umg:
    völlig von der Rolle sein have lost one’s grip on things; SPORT have completely lost one’s touch;
    ihr Tod hat ihn total von der Rolle gebracht he went completely to pieces after her death
    Rolle2 f; -, -n; THEAT etc fig role, part;
    kleine Rolle small ( oder bit) part, minor role;
    seine Rolle lernen learn one’s part ( oder lines);
    die Rolle ist ihr auf den Leib geschrieben the part could have been written for her ( oder suits her down to the ground);
    er ist in seiner Rolle völlig aufgegangen he was completely taken over by the role; fig he became completely absorbed in his task;
    eine Rolle spielen fig play a part ( oder role) (
    bei, in +dat in);
    eine große Rolle spielen fig play an important part ( oder role); Person, Firma: auch be a key player; in einer Firma etc: be in an influential position;
    eine untergeordnete Rolle spielen fig play a subsidiary role, be less important;
    sich mit der Rolle des Zuschauers begnügen be content to be a mere spectator;
    abgeben cut a poor figure;
    er spielt gern eine Rolle pej he likes to be involved (
    bei in);
    er gefällt sich in der Rolle des … he likes playing the …;
    (nicht) wohl fühlen (not) feel at home in the role of a housewife etc;
    Spiel mit vertauschten Rollen reversal of roles;
    das spielt keine Rolle it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t make any difference;
    Geld spielt keine Rolle money is no object;
    aus der Rolle fallen step out of line; stärker: forget oneself
    * * *
    die; Rolle, Rollen
    1) (Spule) reel; spool
    2) (zylindrischer [Hohl]körper; Zusammengerolltes) roll; (SchriftRolle) scroll

    eine Rolle Bindfaden/Zweieurostücke/Kekse — a reel of string/roll of two-euro pieces/[round] packet of biscuits

    3) (Walze) roller; (TeigRolle) rolling pin
    4) (Rad) [small] wheel; (an Möbeln usw.) castor; (für Gardine, Schiebetür usw.) runner
    5) (Turnen, Kunstflug) roll
    6) (Theater, Film usw., fig.) role; part; (Soziol.) role

    [bei jemandem/einer Sache] eine entscheidende Rolle spielen — be of crucial importance [to somebody/for something]

    es spielt keine Rolle — it is of no importance; (es macht nichts aus) it doesn't matter

    * * *
    -n (Theater, Film) f.
    role n. -n f.
    character n.
    part n.
    role n.
    roll n.
    roller n.

    Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch > Rolle

  • 4 Historical Portugal

       Before Romans described western Iberia or Hispania as "Lusitania," ancient Iberians inhabited the land. Phoenician and Greek trading settlements grew up in the Tagus estuary area and nearby coasts. Beginning around 202 BCE, Romans invaded what is today southern Portugal. With Rome's defeat of Carthage, Romans proceeded to conquer and rule the western region north of the Tagus, which they named Roman "Lusitania." In the fourth century CE, as Rome's rule weakened, the area experienced yet another invasion—Germanic tribes, principally the Suevi, who eventually were Christianized. During the sixth century CE, the Suevi kingdom was superseded by yet another Germanic tribe—the Christian Visigoths.
       A major turning point in Portugal's history came in 711, as Muslim armies from North Africa, consisting of both Arab and Berber elements, invaded the Iberian Peninsula from across the Straits of Gibraltar. They entered what is now Portugal in 714, and proceeded to conquer most of the country except for the far north. For the next half a millennium, Islam and Muslim presence in Portugal left a significant mark upon the politics, government, language, and culture of the country.
       Islam, Reconquest, and Portugal Created, 714-1140
       The long frontier struggle between Muslim invaders and Christian communities in the north of the Iberian peninsula was called the Reconquista (Reconquest). It was during this struggle that the first dynasty of Portuguese kings (Burgundian) emerged and the independent monarchy of Portugal was established. Christian forces moved south from what is now the extreme north of Portugal and gradually defeated Muslim forces, besieging and capturing towns under Muslim sway. In the ninth century, as Christian forces slowly made their way southward, Christian elements were dominant only in the area between Minho province and the Douro River; this region became known as "territorium Portu-calense."
       In the 11th century, the advance of the Reconquest quickened as local Christian armies were reinforced by crusading knights from what is now France and England. Christian forces took Montemor (1034), at the Mondego River; Lamego (1058); Viseu (1058); and Coimbra (1064). In 1095, the king of Castile and Léon granted the country of "Portu-cale," what became northern Portugal, to a Burgundian count who had emigrated from France. This was the foundation of Portugal. In 1139, a descendant of this count, Afonso Henriques, proclaimed himself "King of Portugal." He was Portugal's first monarch, the "Founder," and the first of the Burgundian dynasty, which ruled until 1385.
       The emergence of Portugal in the 12th century as a separate monarchy in Iberia occurred before the Christian Reconquest of the peninsula. In the 1140s, the pope in Rome recognized Afonso Henriques as king of Portugal. In 1147, after a long, bloody siege, Muslim-occupied Lisbon fell to Afonso Henriques's army. Lisbon was the greatest prize of the 500-year war. Assisting this effort were English crusaders on their way to the Holy Land; the first bishop of Lisbon was an Englishman. When the Portuguese captured Faro and Silves in the Algarve province in 1248-50, the Reconquest of the extreme western portion of the Iberian peninsula was complete—significantly, more than two centuries before the Spanish crown completed the Reconquest of the eastern portion by capturing Granada in 1492.
       Consolidation and Independence of Burgundian Portugal, 1140-1385
       Two main themes of Portugal's early existence as a monarchy are the consolidation of control over the realm and the defeat of a Castil-ian threat from the east to its independence. At the end of this period came the birth of a new royal dynasty (Aviz), which prepared to carry the Christian Reconquest beyond continental Portugal across the straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. There was a variety of motives behind these developments. Portugal's independent existence was imperiled by threats from neighboring Iberian kingdoms to the north and east. Politics were dominated not only by efforts against the Muslims in
       Portugal (until 1250) and in nearby southern Spain (until 1492), but also by internecine warfare among the kingdoms of Castile, Léon, Aragon, and Portugal. A final comeback of Muslim forces was defeated at the battle of Salado (1340) by allied Castilian and Portuguese forces. In the emerging Kingdom of Portugal, the monarch gradually gained power over and neutralized the nobility and the Church.
       The historic and commonplace Portuguese saying "From Spain, neither a good wind nor a good marriage" was literally played out in diplomacy and war in the late 14th-century struggles for mastery in the peninsula. Larger, more populous Castile was pitted against smaller Portugal. Castile's Juan I intended to force a union between Castile and Portugal during this era of confusion and conflict. In late 1383, Portugal's King Fernando, the last king of the Burgundian dynasty, suddenly died prematurely at age 38, and the Master of Aviz, Portugal's most powerful nobleman, took up the cause of independence and resistance against Castile's invasion. The Master of Aviz, who became King João I of Portugal, was able to obtain foreign assistance. With the aid of English archers, Joao's armies defeated the Castilians in the crucial battle of Aljubarrota, on 14 August 1385, a victory that assured the independence of the Portuguese monarchy from its Castilian nemesis for several centuries.
       Aviz Dynasty and Portugal's First Overseas Empire, 1385-1580
       The results of the victory at Aljubarrota, much celebrated in Portugal's art and monuments, and the rise of the Aviz dynasty also helped to establish a new merchant class in Lisbon and Oporto, Portugal's second city. This group supported King João I's program of carrying the Reconquest to North Africa, since it was interested in expanding Portugal's foreign commerce and tapping into Muslim trade routes and resources in Africa. With the Reconquest against the Muslims completed in Portugal and the threat from Castile thwarted for the moment, the Aviz dynasty launched an era of overseas conquest, exploration, and trade. These efforts dominated Portugal's 15th and 16th centuries.
       The overseas empire and age of Discoveries began with Portugal's bold conquest in 1415 of the Moroccan city of Ceuta. One royal member of the 1415 expedition was young, 21-year-old Prince Henry, later known in history as "Prince Henry the Navigator." His part in the capture of Ceuta won Henry his knighthood and began Portugal's "Marvelous Century," during which the small kingdom was counted as a European and world power of consequence. Henry was the son of King João I and his English queen, Philippa of Lancaster, but he did not inherit the throne. Instead, he spent most of his life and his fortune, and that of the wealthy military Order of Christ, on various imperial ventures and on voyages of exploration down the African coast and into the Atlantic. While mythology has surrounded Henry's controversial role in the Discoveries, and this role has been exaggerated, there is no doubt that he played a vital part in the initiation of Portugal's first overseas empire and in encouraging exploration. He was naturally curious, had a sense of mission for Portugal, and was a strong leader. He also had wealth to expend; at least a third of the African voyages of the time were under his sponsorship. If Prince Henry himself knew little science, significant scientific advances in navigation were made in his day.
       What were Portugal's motives for this new imperial effort? The well-worn historical cliche of "God, Glory, and Gold" can only partly explain the motivation of a small kingdom with few natural resources and barely 1 million people, which was greatly outnumbered by the other powers it confronted. Among Portuguese objectives were the desire to exploit known North African trade routes and resources (gold, wheat, leather, weaponry, and other goods that were scarce in Iberia); the need to outflank the Muslim world in the Mediterranean by sailing around Africa, attacking Muslims en route; and the wish to ally with Christian kingdoms beyond Africa. This enterprise also involved a strategy of breaking the Venetian spice monopoly by trading directly with the East by means of discovering and exploiting a sea route around Africa to Asia. Besides the commercial motives, Portugal nurtured a strong crusading sense of Christian mission, and various classes in the kingdom saw an opportunity for fame and gain.
       By the time of Prince Henry's death in 1460, Portugal had gained control of the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeiras, begun to colonize the Cape Verde Islands, failed to conquer the Canary Islands from Castile, captured various cities on Morocco's coast, and explored as far as Senegal, West Africa, down the African coast. By 1488, Bar-tolomeu Dias had rounded the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and thereby discovered the way to the Indian Ocean.
       Portugal's largely coastal African empire and later its fragile Asian empire brought unexpected wealth but were purchased at a high price. Costs included wars of conquest and defense against rival powers, manning the far-flung navel and trade fleets and scattered castle-fortresses, and staffing its small but fierce armies, all of which entailed a loss of skills and population to maintain a scattered empire. Always short of capital, the monarchy became indebted to bankers. There were many defeats beginning in the 16th century at the hands of the larger imperial European monarchies (Spain, France, England, and Holland) and many attacks on Portugal and its strung-out empire. Typically, there was also the conflict that arose when a tenuously held world empire that rarely if ever paid its way demanded finance and manpower Portugal itself lacked.
       The first 80 years of the glorious imperial era, the golden age of Portugal's imperial power and world influence, was an African phase. During 1415-88, Portuguese navigators and explorers in small ships, some of them caravelas (caravels), explored the treacherous, disease-ridden coasts of Africa from Morocco to South Africa beyond the Cape of Good Hope. By the 1470s, the Portuguese had reached the Gulf of Guinea and, in the early 1480s, what is now Angola. Bartolomeu Dias's extraordinary voyage of 1487-88 to South Africa's coast and the edge of the Indian Ocean convinced Portugal that the best route to Asia's spices and Christians lay south, around the tip of southern Africa. Between 1488 and 1495, there was a hiatus caused in part by domestic conflict in Portugal, discussion of resources available for further conquests beyond Africa in Asia, and serious questions as to Portugal's capacity to reach beyond Africa. In 1495, King Manuel and his council decided to strike for Asia, whatever the consequences. In 1497-99, Vasco da Gama, under royal orders, made the epic two-year voyage that discovered the sea route to western India (Asia), outflanked Islam and Venice, and began Portugal's Asian empire. Within 50 years, Portugal had discovered and begun the exploitation of its largest colony, Brazil, and set up forts and trading posts from the Middle East (Aden and Ormuz), India (Calicut, Goa, etc.), Malacca, and Indonesia to Macau in China.
       By the 1550s, parts of its largely coastal, maritime trading post empire from Morocco to the Moluccas were under siege from various hostile forces, including Muslims, Christians, and Hindi. Although Moroccan forces expelled the Portuguese from the major coastal cities by 1550, the rival European monarchies of Castile (Spain), England, France, and later Holland began to seize portions of her undermanned, outgunned maritime empire.
       In 1580, Phillip II of Spain, whose mother was a Portuguese princess and who had a strong claim to the Portuguese throne, invaded Portugal, claimed the throne, and assumed control over the realm and, by extension, its African, Asian, and American empires. Phillip II filled the power vacuum that appeared in Portugal following the loss of most of Portugal's army and its young, headstrong King Sebastião in a disastrous war in Morocco. Sebastiao's death in battle (1578) and the lack of a natural heir to succeed him, as well as the weak leadership of the cardinal who briefly assumed control in Lisbon, led to a crisis that Spain's strong monarch exploited. As a result, Portugal lost its independence to Spain for a period of 60 years.
       Portugal under Spanish Rule, 1580-1640
       Despite the disastrous nature of Portugal's experience under Spanish rule, "The Babylonian Captivity" gave birth to modern Portuguese nationalism, its second overseas empire, and its modern alliance system with England. Although Spain allowed Portugal's weakened empire some autonomy, Spanish rule in Portugal became increasingly burdensome and unacceptable. Spain's ambitious imperial efforts in Europe and overseas had an impact on the Portuguese as Spain made greater and greater demands on its smaller neighbor for manpower and money. Portugal's culture underwent a controversial Castilianization, while its empire became hostage to Spain's fortunes. New rival powers England, France, and Holland attacked and took parts of Spain's empire and at the same time attacked Portugal's empire, as well as the mother country.
       Portugal's empire bore the consequences of being attacked by Spain's bitter enemies in what was a form of world war. Portuguese losses were heavy. By 1640, Portugal had lost most of its Moroccan cities as well as Ceylon, the Moluccas, and sections of India. With this, Portugal's Asian empire was gravely weakened. Only Goa, Damão, Diu, Bombay, Timor, and Macau remained and, in Brazil, Dutch forces occupied the northeast.
       On 1 December 1640, long commemorated as a national holiday, Portuguese rebels led by the duke of Braganza overthrew Spanish domination and took advantage of Spanish weakness following a more serious rebellion in Catalonia. Portugal regained independence from Spain, but at a price: dependence on foreign assistance to maintain its independence in the form of the renewal of the alliance with England.
       Restoration and Second Empire, 1640-1822
       Foreign affairs and empire dominated the restoration era and aftermath, and Portugal again briefly enjoyed greater European power and prestige. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was renewed and strengthened in treaties of 1642, 1654, and 1661, and Portugal's independence from Spain was underwritten by English pledges and armed assistance. In a Luso-Spanish treaty of 1668, Spain recognized Portugal's independence. Portugal's alliance with England was a marriage of convenience and necessity between two monarchies with important religious, cultural, and social differences. In return for legal, diplomatic, and trade privileges, as well as the use during war and peace of Portugal's great Lisbon harbor and colonial ports for England's navy, England pledged to protect Portugal and its scattered empire from any attack. The previously cited 17th-century alliance treaties were renewed later in the Treaty of Windsor, signed in London in 1899. On at least 10 different occasions after 1640, and during the next two centuries, England was central in helping prevent or repel foreign invasions of its ally, Portugal.
       Portugal's second empire (1640-1822) was largely Brazil-oriented. Portuguese colonization, exploitation of wealth, and emigration focused on Portuguese America, and imperial revenues came chiefly from Brazil. Between 1670 and 1740, Portugal's royalty and nobility grew wealthier on funds derived from Brazilian gold, diamonds, sugar, tobacco, and other crops, an enterprise supported by the Atlantic slave trade and the supply of African slave labor from West Africa and Angola. Visitors today can see where much of that wealth was invested: Portugal's rich legacy of monumental architecture. Meanwhile, the African slave trade took a toll in Angola and West Africa.
       In continental Portugal, absolutist monarchy dominated politics and government, and there was a struggle for position and power between the monarchy and other institutions, such as the Church and nobility. King José I's chief minister, usually known in history as the marquis of Pombal (ruled 1750-77), sharply suppressed the nobility and the
       Church (including the Inquisition, now a weak institution) and expelled the Jesuits. Pombal also made an effort to reduce economic dependence on England, Portugal's oldest ally. But his successes did not last much beyond his disputed time in office.
       Beginning in the late 18th century, the European-wide impact of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon placed Portugal in a vulnerable position. With the monarchy ineffectively led by an insane queen (Maria I) and her indecisive regent son (João VI), Portugal again became the focus of foreign ambition and aggression. With England unable to provide decisive assistance in time, France—with Spain's consent—invaded Portugal in 1807. As Napoleon's army under General Junot entered Lisbon meeting no resistance, Portugal's royal family fled on a British fleet to Brazil, where it remained in exile until 1821. In the meantime, Portugal's overseas empire was again under threat. There was a power vacuum as the monarch was absent, foreign armies were present, and new political notions of liberalism and constitutional monarchy were exciting various groups of citizens.
       Again England came to the rescue, this time in the form of the armies of the duke of Wellington. Three successive French invasions of Portugal were defeated and expelled, and Wellington succeeded in carrying the war against Napoleon across the Portuguese frontier into Spain. The presence of the English army, the new French-born liberal ideas, and the political vacuum combined to create revolutionary conditions. The French invasions and the peninsular wars, where Portuguese armed forces played a key role, marked the beginning of a new era in politics.
       Liberalism and Constitutional Monarchy, 1822-1910
       During 1807-22, foreign invasions, war, and civil strife over conflicting political ideas gravely damaged Portugal's commerce, economy, and novice industry. The next terrible blow was the loss of Brazil in 1822, the jewel in the imperial crown. Portugal's very independence seemed to be at risk. In vain, Portugal sought to resist Brazilian independence by force, but in 1825 it formally acknowledged Brazilian independence by treaty.
       Portugal's slow recovery from the destructive French invasions and the "war of independence" was complicated by civil strife over the form of constitutional monarchy that best suited Portugal. After struggles over these issues between 1820 and 1834, Portugal settled somewhat uncertainly into a moderate constitutional monarchy whose constitution (Charter of 1826) lent it strong political powers to exert a moderating influence between the executive and legislative branches of the government. It also featured a new upper middle class based on land ownership and commerce; a Catholic Church that, although still important, lived with reduced privileges and property; a largely African (third) empire to which Lisbon and Oporto devoted increasing spiritual and material resources, starting with the liberal imperial plans of 1836 and 1851, and continuing with the work of institutions like the Lisbon Society of Geography (established 1875); and a mass of rural peasants whose bonds to the land weakened after 1850 and who began to immigrate in increasing numbers to Brazil and North America.
       Chronic military intervention in national politics began in 19th-century Portugal. Such intervention, usually commencing with coups or pronunciamentos (military revolts), was a shortcut to the spoils of political office and could reflect popular discontent as well as the power of personalities. An early example of this was the 1817 golpe (coup) attempt of General Gomes Freire against British military rule in Portugal before the return of King João VI from Brazil. Except for a more stable period from 1851 to 1880, military intervention in politics, or the threat thereof, became a feature of the constitutional monarchy's political life, and it continued into the First Republic and the subsequent Estado Novo.
       Beginning with the Regeneration period (1851-80), Portugal experienced greater political stability and economic progress. Military intervention in politics virtually ceased; industrialization and construction of railroads, roads, and bridges proceeded; two political parties (Regenerators and Historicals) worked out a system of rotation in power; and leading intellectuals sparked a cultural revival in several fields. In 19th-century literature, there was a new golden age led by such figures as Alexandre Herculano (historian), Eça de Queirós (novelist), Almeida Garrett (playwright and essayist), Antero de Quental (poet), and Joaquim Oliveira Martins (historian and social scientist). In its third overseas empire, Portugal attempted to replace the slave trade and slavery with legitimate economic activities; to reform the administration; and to expand Portuguese holdings beyond coastal footholds deep into the African hinterlands in West, West Central, and East Africa. After 1841, to some extent, and especially after 1870, colonial affairs, combined with intense nationalism, pressures for economic profit in Africa, sentiment for national revival, and the drift of European affairs would make or break Lisbon governments.
       Beginning with the political crisis that arose out of the "English Ultimatum" affair of January 1890, the monarchy became discredtted and identified with the poorly functioning government, political parties splintered, and republicanism found more supporters. Portugal participated in the "Scramble for Africa," expanding its African holdings, but failed to annex territory connecting Angola and Mozambique. A growing foreign debt and state bankruptcy as of the early 1890s damaged the constitutional monarchy's reputation, despite the efforts of King Carlos in diplomacy, the renewal of the alliance in the Windsor Treaty of 1899, and the successful if bloody colonial wars in the empire (1880-97). Republicanism proclaimed that Portugal's weak economy and poor society were due to two historic institutions: the monarchy and the Catholic Church. A republic, its stalwarts claimed, would bring greater individual liberty; efficient, if more decentralized government; and a stronger colonial program while stripping the Church of its role in both society and education.
       As the monarchy lost support and republicans became more aggressive, violence increased in politics. King Carlos I and his heir Luís were murdered in Lisbon by anarchist-republicans on 1 February 1908. Following a military and civil insurrection and fighting between monarchist and republican forces, on 5 October 1910, King Manuel II fled Portugal and a republic was proclaimed.
       First Parliamentary Republic, 1910-26
       Portugal's first attempt at republican government was the most unstable, turbulent parliamentary republic in the history of 20th-century Western Europe. During a little under 16 years of the republic, there were 45 governments, a number of legislatures that did not complete normal terms, military coups, and only one president who completed his four-year term in office. Portuguese society was poorly prepared for this political experiment. Among the deadly legacies of the monarchy were a huge public debt; a largely rural, apolitical, and illiterate peasant population; conflict over the causes of the country's misfortunes; and lack of experience with a pluralist, democratic system.
       The republic had some talented leadership but lacked popular, institutional, and economic support. The 1911 republican constitution established only a limited democracy, as only a small portion of the adult male citizenry was eligible to vote. In a country where the majority was Catholic, the republic passed harshly anticlerical laws, and its institutions and supporters persecuted both the Church and its adherents. During its brief disjointed life, the First Republic drafted important reform plans in economic, social, and educational affairs; actively promoted development in the empire; and pursued a liberal, generous foreign policy. Following British requests for Portugal's assistance in World War I, Portugal entered the war on the Allied side in March 1916 and sent armies to Flanders and Portuguese Africa. Portugal's intervention in that conflict, however, was too costly in many respects, and the ultimate failure of the republic in part may be ascribed to Portugal's World War I activities.
       Unfortunately for the republic, its time coincided with new threats to Portugal's African possessions: World War I, social and political demands from various classes that could not be reconciled, excessive military intervention in politics, and, in particular, the worst economic and financial crisis Portugal had experienced since the 16th and 17th centuries. After the original Portuguese Republican Party (PRP, also known as the "Democrats") splintered into three warring groups in 1912, no true multiparty system emerged. The Democrats, except for only one or two elections, held an iron monopoly of electoral power, and political corruption became a major issue. As extreme right-wing dictatorships elsewhere in Europe began to take power in Italy (1922), neighboring Spain (1923), and Greece (1925), what scant popular support remained for the republic collapsed. Backed by a right-wing coalition of landowners from Alentejo, clergy, Coimbra University faculty and students, Catholic organizations, and big business, career military officers led by General Gomes da Costa executed a coup on 28 May 1926, turned out the last republican government, and established a military government.
       The Estado Novo (New State), 1926-74
       During the military phase (1926-32) of the Estado Novo, professional military officers, largely from the army, governed and administered Portugal and held key cabinet posts, but soon discovered that the military possessed no magic formula that could readily solve the problems inherited from the First Republic. Especially during the years 1926-31, the military dictatorship, even with its political repression of republican activities and institutions (military censorship of the press, political police action, and closure of the republic's rowdy parliament), was characterized by similar weaknesses: personalism and factionalism; military coups and political instability, including civil strife and loss of life; state debt and bankruptcy; and a weak economy. "Barracks parliamentarism" was not an acceptable alternative even to the "Nightmare Republic."
       Led by General Óscar Carmona, who had replaced and sent into exile General Gomes da Costa, the military dictatorship turned to a civilian expert in finance and economics to break the budget impasse and bring coherence to the disorganized system. Appointed minister of finance on 27 April 1928, the Coimbra University Law School professor of economics Antônio de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970) first reformed finance, helped balance the budget, and then turned to other concerns as he garnered extraordinary governing powers. In 1930, he was appointed interim head of another key ministry (Colonies) and within a few years had become, in effect, a civilian dictator who, with the military hierarchy's support, provided the government with coherence, a program, and a set of policies.
       For nearly 40 years after he was appointed the first civilian prime minister in 1932, Salazar's personality dominated the government. Unlike extreme right-wing dictators elsewhere in Europe, Salazar was directly appointed by the army but was never endorsed by a popular political party, street militia, or voter base. The scholarly, reclusive former Coimbra University professor built up what became known after 1932 as the Estado Novo ("New State"), which at the time of its overthrow by another military coup in 1974, was the longest surviving authoritarian regime in Western Europe. The system of Salazar and the largely academic and technocratic ruling group he gathered in his cabinets was based on the central bureaucracy of the state, which was supported by the president of the republic—always a senior career military officer, General Óscar Carmona (1928-51), General Craveiro Lopes (1951-58), and Admiral Américo Tómaz (1958-74)—and the complicity of various institutions. These included a rubber-stamp legislature called the National Assembly (1935-74) and a political police known under various names: PVDE (1932-45), PIDE (1945-69),
       and DGS (1969-74). Other defenders of the Estado Novo security were paramilitary organizations such as the National Republican Guard (GNR); the Portuguese Legion (PL); and the Portuguese Youth [Movement]. In addition to censorship of the media, theater, and books, there was political repression and a deliberate policy of depoliticization. All political parties except for the approved movement of regime loyalists, the União Nacional or (National Union), were banned.
       The most vigorous and more popular period of the New State was 1932-44, when the basic structures were established. Never monolithic or entirely the work of one person (Salazar), the New State was constructed with the assistance of several dozen top associates who were mainly academics from law schools, some technocrats with specialized skills, and a handful of trusted career military officers. The 1933 Constitution declared Portugal to be a "unitary, corporative Republic," and pressures to restore the monarchy were resisted. Although some of the regime's followers were fascists and pseudofascists, many more were conservative Catholics, integralists, nationalists, and monarchists of different varieties, and even some reactionary republicans. If the New State was authoritarian, it was not totalitarian and, unlike fascism in Benito Mussolini's Italy or Adolf Hitler's Germany, it usually employed the minimum of violence necessary to defeat what remained a largely fractious, incoherent opposition.
       With the tumultuous Second Republic and the subsequent civil war in nearby Spain, the regime felt threatened and reinforced its defenses. During what Salazar rightly perceived as a time of foreign policy crisis for Portugal (1936-45), he assumed control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, he pursued four basic foreign policy objectives: supporting the Nationalist rebels of General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and concluding defense treaties with a triumphant Franco; ensuring that General Franco in an exhausted Spain did not enter World War II on the Axis side; maintaining Portuguese neutrality in World War II with a post-1942 tilt toward the Allies, including granting Britain and the United States use of bases in the Azores Islands; and preserving and protecting Portugal's Atlantic Islands and its extensive, if poor, overseas empire in Africa and Asia.
       During the middle years of the New State (1944-58), many key Salazar associates in government either died or resigned, and there was greater social unrest in the form of unprecedented strikes and clandestine Communist activities, intensified opposition, and new threatening international pressures on Portugal's overseas empire. During the earlier phase of the Cold War (1947-60), Portugal became a steadfast, if weak, member of the US-dominated North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance and, in 1955, with American support, Portugal joined the United Nations (UN). Colonial affairs remained a central concern of the regime. As of 1939, Portugal was the third largest colonial power in the world and possessed territories in tropical Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe Islands) and the remnants of its 16th-century empire in Asia (Goa, Damão, Diu, East Timor, and Macau). Beginning in the early 1950s, following the independence of India in 1947, Portugal resisted Indian pressures to decolonize Portuguese India and used police forces to discourage internal opposition in its Asian and African colonies.
       The later years of the New State (1958-68) witnessed the aging of the increasingly isolated but feared Salazar and new threats both at home and overseas. Although the regime easily overcame the brief oppositionist threat from rival presidential candidate General Humberto Delgado in the spring of 1958, new developments in the African and Asian empires imperiled the authoritarian system. In February 1961, oppositionists hijacked the Portuguese ocean liner Santa Maria and, in following weeks, African insurgents in northern Angola, although they failed to expel the Portuguese, gained worldwide media attention, discredited the New State, and began the 13-year colonial war. After thwarting a dissident military coup against his continued leadership, Salazar and his ruling group mobilized military repression in Angola and attempted to develop the African colonies at a faster pace in order to ensure Portuguese control. Meanwhile, the other European colonial powers (Britain, France, Belgium, and Spain) rapidly granted political independence to their African territories.
       At the time of Salazar's removal from power in September 1968, following a stroke, Portugal's efforts to maintain control over its colonies appeared to be successful. President Americo Tomás appointed Dr. Marcello Caetano as Salazar's successor as prime minister. While maintaining the New State's basic structures, and continuing the regime's essential colonial policy, Caetano attempted wider reforms in colonial administration and some devolution of power from Lisbon, as well as more freedom of expression in Lisbon. Still, a great deal of the budget was devoted to supporting the wars against the insurgencies in Africa. Meanwhile in Asia, Portuguese India had fallen when the Indian army invaded in December 1961. The loss of Goa was a psychological blow to the leadership of the New State, and of the Asian empire only East Timor and Macau remained.
       The Caetano years (1968-74) were but a hiatus between the waning Salazar era and a new regime. There was greater political freedom and rapid economic growth (5-6 percent annually to late 1973), but Caetano's government was unable to reform the old system thoroughly and refused to consider new methods either at home or in the empire. In the end, regime change came from junior officers of the professional military who organized the Armed Forces Movement (MFA) against the Caetano government. It was this group of several hundred officers, mainly in the army and navy, which engineered a largely bloodless coup in Lisbon on 25 April 1974. Their unexpected action brought down the 48-year-old New State and made possible the eventual establishment and consolidation of democratic governance in Portugal, as well as a reorientation of the country away from the Atlantic toward Europe.
       Revolution of Carnations, 1974-76
       Following successful military operations of the Armed Forces Movement against the Caetano government, Portugal experienced what became known as the "Revolution of Carnations." It so happened that during the rainy week of the military golpe, Lisbon flower shops were featuring carnations, and the revolutionaries and their supporters adopted the red carnation as the common symbol of the event, as well as of the new freedom from dictatorship. The MFA, whose leaders at first were mostly little-known majors and captains, proclaimed a three-fold program of change for the new Portugal: democracy; decolonization of the overseas empire, after ending the colonial wars; and developing a backward economy in the spirit of opportunity and equality. During the first 24 months after the coup, there was civil strife, some anarchy, and a power struggle. With the passing of the Estado Novo, public euphoria burst forth as the new provisional military government proclaimed the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, and abolished censorship, the political police, the Portuguese Legion, Portuguese Youth, and other New State organizations, including the National Union. Scores of political parties were born and joined the senior political party, the Portuguese Community Party (PCP), and the Socialist Party (PS), founded shortly before the coup.
       Portugal's Revolution of Carnations went through several phases. There was an attempt to take control by radical leftists, including the PCP and its allies. This was thwarted by moderate officers in the army, as well as by the efforts of two political parties: the PS and the Social Democrats (PPD, later PSD). The first phase was from April to September 1974. Provisional president General Antonio Spínola, whose 1974 book Portugal and the Future had helped prepare public opinion for the coup, met irresistible leftist pressures. After Spinola's efforts to avoid rapid decolonization of the African empire failed, he resigned in September 1974. During the second phase, from September 1974 to March 1975, radical military officers gained control, but a coup attempt by General Spínola and his supporters in Lisbon in March 1975 failed and Spínola fled to Spain.
       In the third phase of the Revolution, March-November 1975, a strong leftist reaction followed. Farm workers occupied and "nationalized" 1.1 million hectares of farmland in the Alentejo province, and radical military officers in the provisional government ordered the nationalization of Portuguese banks (foreign banks were exempted), utilities, and major industries, or about 60 percent of the economic system. There were power struggles among various political parties — a total of 50 emerged—and in the streets there was civil strife among labor, military, and law enforcement groups. A constituent assembly, elected on 25 April 1975, in Portugal's first free elections since 1926, drafted a democratic constitution. The Council of the Revolution (CR), briefly a revolutionary military watchdog committee, was entrenched as part of the government under the constitution, until a later revision. During the chaotic year of 1975, about 30 persons were killed in political frays while unstable provisional governments came and went. On 25 November 1975, moderate military forces led by Colonel Ramalho Eanes, who later was twice elected president of the republic (1976 and 1981), defeated radical, leftist military groups' revolutionary conspiracies.
       In the meantime, Portugal's scattered overseas empire experienced a precipitous and unprepared decolonization. One by one, the former colonies were granted and accepted independence—Guinea-Bissau (September 1974), Cape Verde Islands (July 1975), and Mozambique (July 1975). Portugal offered to turn over Macau to the People's Republic of China, but the offer was refused then and later negotiations led to the establishment of a formal decolonization or hand-over date of 1999. But in two former colonies, the process of decolonization had tragic results.
       In Angola, decolonization negotiations were greatly complicated by the fact that there were three rival nationalist movements in a struggle for power. The January 1975 Alvor Agreement signed by Portugal and these three parties was not effectively implemented. A bloody civil war broke out in Angola in the spring of 1975 and, when Portuguese armed forces withdrew and declared that Angola was independent on 11 November 1975, the bloodshed only increased. Meanwhile, most of the white Portuguese settlers from Angola and Mozambique fled during the course of 1975. Together with African refugees, more than 600,000 of these retornados ("returned ones") went by ship and air to Portugal and thousands more to Namibia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
       The second major decolonization disaster was in Portugal's colony of East Timor in the Indonesian archipelago. Portugal's capacity to supervise and control a peaceful transition to independence in this isolated, neglected colony was limited by the strength of giant Indonesia, distance from Lisbon, and Portugal's revolutionary disorder and inability to defend Timor. In early December 1975, before Portugal granted formal independence and as one party, FRETILIN, unilaterally declared East Timor's independence, Indonesia's armed forces invaded, conquered, and annexed East Timor. Indonesian occupation encountered East Timorese resistance, and a heavy loss of life followed. The East Timor question remained a contentious international issue in the UN, as well as in Lisbon and Jakarta, for more than 20 years following Indonesia's invasion and annexation of the former colony of Portugal. Major changes occurred, beginning in 1998, after Indonesia underwent a political revolution and allowed a referendum in East Timor to decide that territory's political future in August 1999. Most East Timorese chose independence, but Indonesian forces resisted that verdict until
       UN intervention in September 1999. Following UN rule for several years, East Timor attained full independence on 20 May 2002.
       Consolidation of Democracy, 1976-2000
       After several free elections and record voter turnouts between 25 April 1975 and June 1976, civil war was averted and Portugal's second democratic republic began to stabilize. The MFA was dissolved, the military were returned to the barracks, and increasingly elected civilians took over the government of the country. The 1976 Constitution was revised several times beginning in 1982 and 1989, in order to reempha-size the principle of free enterprise in the economy while much of the large, nationalized sector was privatized. In June 1976, General Ram-alho Eanes was elected the first constitutional president of the republic (five-year term), and he appointed socialist leader Dr. Mário Soares as prime minister of the first constitutional government.
       From 1976 to 1985, Portugal's new system featured a weak economy and finances, labor unrest, and administrative and political instability. The difficult consolidation of democratic governance was eased in part by the strong currency and gold reserves inherited from the Estado Novo, but Lisbon seemed unable to cope with high unemployment, new debt, the complex impact of the refugees from Africa, world recession, and the agitation of political parties. Four major parties emerged from the maelstrom of 1974-75, except for the Communist Party, all newly founded. They were, from left to right, the Communists (PCP); the Socialists (PS), who managed to dominate governments and the legislature but not win a majority in the Assembly of the Republic; the Social Democrats (PSD); and the Christian Democrats (CDS). During this period, the annual growth rate was low (l-2 percent), and the nationalized sector of the economy stagnated.
       Enhanced economic growth, greater political stability, and more effective central government as of 1985, and especially 1987, were due to several developments. In 1977, Portugal applied for membership in the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU) since 1993. In January 1986, with Spain, Portugal was granted membership, and economic and financial progress in the intervening years has been significantly influenced by the comparatively large investment, loans, technology, advice, and other assistance from the EEC. Low unemployment, high annual growth rates (5 percent), and moderate inflation have also been induced by the new political and administrative stability in Lisbon. Led by Prime Minister Cavaco Silva, an economist who was trained abroad, the PSD's strong organization, management, and electoral support since 1985 have assisted in encouraging economic recovery and development. In 1985, the PSD turned the PS out of office and won the general election, although they did not have an absolute majority of assembly seats. In 1986, Mário Soares was elected president of the republic, the first civilian to hold that office since the First Republic. In the elections of 1987 and 1991, however, the PSD was returned to power with clear majorities of over 50 percent of the vote.
       Although the PSD received 50.4 percent of the vote in the 1991 parliamentary elections and held a 42-seat majority in the Assembly of the Republic, the party began to lose public support following media revelations regarding corruption and complaints about Prime Minister Cavaco Silva's perceived arrogant leadership style. President Mário Soares voiced criticism of the PSD's seemingly untouchable majority and described a "tyranny of the majority." Economic growth slowed down. In the parliamentary elections of 1995 and the presidential election of 1996, the PSD's dominance ended for the time being. Prime Minister Antônio Guterres came to office when the PS won the October 1995 elections, and in the subsequent presidential contest, in January 1996, socialist Jorge Sampaio, the former mayor of Lisbon, was elected president of the republic, thus defeating Cavaco Silva's bid. Young and popular, Guterres moved the PS toward the center of the political spectrum. Under Guterres, the PS won the October 1999 parliamentary elections. The PS defeated the PSD but did not manage to win a clear, working majority of seats, and this made the PS dependent upon alliances with smaller parties, including the PCP.
       In the local elections in December 2001, the PSD's criticism of PS's heavy public spending allowed the PSD to take control of the key cities of Lisbon, Oporto, and Coimbra. Guterres resigned, and parliamentary elections were brought forward from 2004 to March 2002. The PSD won a narrow victory with 40 percent of the votes, and Jose Durão Barroso became prime minister. Having failed to win a majority of the seats in parliament forced the PSD to govern in coalition with the right-wing Popular Party (PP) led by Paulo Portas. Durão Barroso set about reducing government spending by cutting the budgets of local authorities, freezing civil service hiring, and reviving the economy by accelerating privatization of state-owned enterprises. These measures provoked a 24-hour strike by public-sector workers. Durão Barroso reacted with vows to press ahead with budget-cutting measures and imposed a wage freeze on all employees earning more than €1,000, which affected more than one-half of Portugal's work force.
       In June 2004, Durão Barroso was invited by Romano Prodi to succeed him as president of the European Commission. Durão Barroso accepted and resigned the prime ministership in July. Pedro Santana Lopes, the leader of the PSD, became prime minister. Already unpopular at the time of Durão Barroso's resignation, the PSD-led government became increasingly unpopular under Santana Lopes. A month-long delay in the start of the school year and confusion over his plan to cut taxes and raise public-sector salaries, eroded confidence even more. By November, Santana Lopes's government was so unpopular that President Jorge Sampaio was obliged to dissolve parliament and hold new elections, two years ahead of schedule.
       Parliamentary elections were held on 20 February 2005. The PS, which had promised the electorate disciplined and transparent governance, educational reform, the alleviation of poverty, and a boost in employment, won 45 percent of the vote and the majority of the seats in parliament. The leader of the PS, José Sôcrates became prime minister on 12 March 2005. In the regularly scheduled presidential elections held on 6 January 2006, the former leader of the PSD and prime minister, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, won a narrow victory and became president on 9 March 2006. With a mass protest, public teachers' strike, and street demonstrations in March 2008, Portugal's media, educational, and social systems experienced more severe pressures. With the spreading global recession beginning in September 2008, Portugal's economic and financial systems became more troubled.
       Owing to its geographic location on the southwestern most edge of continental Europe, Portugal has been historically in but not of Europe. Almost from the beginning of its existence in the 12th century as an independent monarchy, Portugal turned its back on Europe and oriented itself toward the Atlantic Ocean. After carving out a Christian kingdom on the western portion of the Iberian peninsula, Portuguese kings gradually built and maintained a vast seaborne global empire that became central to the way Portugal understood its individuality as a nation-state. While the creation of this empire allows Portugal to claim an unusual number of "firsts" or distinctions in world and Western history, it also retarded Portugal's economic, social, and political development. It can be reasonably argued that the Revolution of 25 April 1974 was the most decisive event in Portugal's long history because it finally ended Portugal's oceanic mission and view of itself as an imperial power. After the 1974 Revolution, Portugal turned away from its global mission and vigorously reoriented itself toward Europe. Contemporary Portugal is now both in and of Europe.
       The turn toward Europe began immediately after 25 April 1974. Portugal granted independence to its African colonies in 1975. It was admitted to the European Council and took the first steps toward accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1976. On 28 March 1977, the Portuguese government officially applied for EEC membership. Because of Portugal's economic and social backwardness, which would require vast sums of EEC money to overcome, negotiations for membership were long and difficult. Finally, a treaty of accession was signed on 12 June 1985. Portugal officially joined the EEC (the European Union [EU] since 1993) on 1 January 1986. Since becoming a full-fledged member of the EU, Portugal has been steadily overcoming the economic and social underdevelopment caused by its imperial past and is becoming more like the rest of Europe.
       Membership in the EU has speeded up the structural transformation of Portugal's economy, which actually began during the Estado Novo. Investments made by the Estado Novo in Portugal's economy began to shift employment out of the agricultural sector, which, in 1950, accounted for 50 percent of Portugal's economically active population. Today, only 10 percent of the economically active population is employed in the agricultural sector (the highest among EU member states); 30 percent in the industrial sector (also the highest among EU member states); and 60 percent in the service sector (the lowest among EU member states). The economically active population numbers about 5,000,000 employed, 56 percent of whom are women. Women workers are the majority of the workforce in the agricultural and service sectors (the highest among the EU member states). The expansion of the service sector has been primarily in health care and education. Portugal has had the lowest unemployment rates among EU member states, with the overall rate never being more than 10 percent of the active population. Since joining the EU, the number of employers increased from 2.6 percent to 5.8 percent of the active population; self-employed from 16 to 19 percent; and employees from 65 to 70 percent. Twenty-six percent of the employers are women. Unemployment tends to hit younger workers in industry and transportation, women employed in domestic service, workers on short-term contracts, and poorly educated workers. Salaried workers earn only 63 percent of the EU average, and hourly workers only one-third to one-half of that earned by their EU counterparts. Despite having had the second highest growth of gross national product (GNP) per inhabitant (after Ireland) among EU member states, the above data suggest that while much has been accomplished in terms of modernizing the Portuguese economy, much remains to be done to bring Portugal's economy up to the level of the "average" EU member state.
       Membership in the EU has also speeded up changes in Portuguese society. Over the last 30 years, coastalization and urbanization have intensified. Fully 50 percent of Portuguese live in the coastal urban conurbations of Lisbon, Oporto, Braga, Aveiro, Coimbra, Viseu, Évora, and Faro. The Portuguese population is one of the oldest among EU member states (17.3 percent are 65 years of age or older) thanks to a considerable increase in life expectancy at birth (77.87 years for the total population, 74.6 years for men, 81.36 years for women) and one of the lowest birthrates (10.59 births/1,000) in Europe. Family size averages 2.8 persons per household, with the strict nuclear family (one or two generations) in which both parents work being typical. Common law marriages, cohabitating couples, and single-parent households are more and more common. The divorce rate has also increased. "Youth Culture" has developed. The young have their own meeting places, leisure-time activities, and nightlife (bars, clubs, and discos).
       All Portuguese citizens, whether they have contributed or not, have a right to an old-age pension, invalidity benefits, widowed persons' pension, as well as payments for disabilities, children, unemployment, and large families. There is a national minimum wage (€385 per month), which is low by EU standards. The rapid aging of Portugal's population has changed the ratio of contributors to pensioners to 1.7, the lowest in the EU. This has created deficits in Portugal's social security fund.
       The adult literacy rate is about 92 percent. Illiteracy is still found among the elderly. Although universal compulsory education up to grade 9 was achieved in 1980, only 21.2 percent of the population aged 25-64 had undergone secondary education, compared to an EU average of 65.7 percent. Portugal's higher education system currently consists of 14 state universities and 14 private universities, 15 state polytechnic institutions, one Catholic university, and one military academy. All in all, Portugal spends a greater percentage of its state budget on education than most EU member states. Despite this high level of expenditure, the troubled Portuguese education system does not perform well. Early leaving and repetition rates are among the highest among EU member states.
       After the Revolution of 25 April 1974, Portugal created a National Health Service, which today consists of 221 hospitals and 512 medical centers employing 33,751 doctors and 41,799 nurses. Like its education system, Portugal's medical system is inefficient. There are long waiting lists for appointments with specialists and for surgical procedures.
       Structural changes in Portugal's economy and society mean that social life in Portugal is not too different from that in other EU member states. A mass consumption society has been created. Televisions, telephones, refrigerators, cars, music equipment, mobile phones, and personal computers are commonplace. Sixty percent of Portuguese households possess at least one automobile, and 65 percent of Portuguese own their own home. Portuguese citizens are more aware of their legal rights than ever before. This has resulted in a trebling of the number of legal proceeding since 1960 and an eight-fold increase in the number of lawyers. In general, Portuguese society has become more permissive and secular; the Catholic Church and the armed forces are much less influential than in the past. Portugal's population is also much more culturally, religiously, and ethnically diverse, a consequence of the coming to Portugal of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mainly from former African colonies.
       Portuguese are becoming more cosmopolitan and sophisticated through the impact of world media, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. A prime case in point came in the summer and early fall of 1999, with the extraordinary events in East Timor and the massive Portuguese popular responses. An internationally monitored referendum in East Timor, Portugal's former colony in the Indonesian archipelago and under Indonesian occupation from late 1975 to summer 1999, resulted in a vote of 78.5 percent for rejecting integration with Indonesia and for independence. When Indonesian prointegration gangs, aided by the Indonesian military, responded to the referendum with widespread brutality and threatened to reverse the verdict of the referendum, there was a spontaneous popular outpouring of protest in the cities and towns of Portugal. An avalanche of Portuguese e-mail fell on leaders and groups in the UN and in certain countries around the world as Portugal's diplomats, perhaps to compensate for the weak initial response to Indonesian armed aggression in 1975, called for the protection of East Timor as an independent state and for UN intervention to thwart Indonesian action. Using global communications networks, the Portuguese were able to mobilize UN and world public opinion against Indonesian actions and aided the eventual independence of East Timor on 20 May 2002.
       From the Revolution of 25 April 1974 until the 1990s, Portugal had a large number of political parties, one of the largest Communist parties in western Europe, frequent elections, and endemic cabinet instability. Since the 1990s, the number of political parties has been dramatically reduced and cabinet stability increased. Gradually, the Portuguese electorate has concentrated around two larger parties, the right-of-center Social Democrats (PSD) and the left-of-center Socialist (PS). In the 1980s, these two parties together garnered 65 percent of the vote and 70 percent of the seats in parliament. In 2005, these percentages had risen to 74 percent and 85 percent, respectively. In effect, Portugal is currently a two-party dominant system in which the two largest parties — PS and PSD—alternate in and out of power, not unlike the rotation of the two main political parties (the Regenerators and the Historicals) during the last decades (1850s to 1880s) of the liberal constitutional monarchy. As Portugal's democracy has consolidated, turnout rates for the eligible electorate have declined. In the 1970s, turnout was 85 percent. In Portugal's most recent parliamentary election (2005), turnout had fallen to 65 percent of the eligible electorate.
       Portugal has benefited greatly from membership in the EU, and whatever doubts remain about the price paid for membership, no Portuguese government in the near future can afford to sever this connection. The vast majority of Portuguese citizens see membership in the EU as a "good thing" and strongly believe that Portugal has benefited from membership. Only the Communist Party opposed membership because it reduces national sovereignty, serves the interests of capitalists not workers, and suffers from a democratic deficit. Despite the high level of support for the EU, Portuguese voters are increasingly not voting in elections for the European Parliament, however. Turnout for European Parliament elections fell from 40 percent of the eligible electorate in the 1999 elections to 38 percent in the 2004 elections.
       In sum, Portugal's turn toward Europe has done much to overcome its backwardness. However, despite the economic, social, and political progress made since 1986, Portugal has a long way to go before it can claim to be on a par with the level found even in Spain, much less the rest of western Europe. As Portugal struggles to move from underde-velopment, especially in the rural areas away from the coast, it must keep in mind the perils of too rapid modern development, which could damage two of its most precious assets: its scenery and environment. The growth and future prosperity of the economy will depend on the degree to which the government and the private sector will remain stewards of clean air, soil, water, and other finite resources on which the tourism industry depends and on which Portugal's world image as a unique place to visit rests. Currently, Portugal is investing heavily in renewable energy from solar, wind, and wave power in order to account for about 50 percent of its electricity needs by 2010. Portugal opened the world's largest solar power plant and the world's first commercial wave power farm in 2006.
       An American documentary film on Portugal produced in the 1970s described this little country as having "a Past in Search of a Future." In the years after the Revolution of 25 April 1974, it could be said that Portugal is now living in "a Present in Search of a Future." Increasingly, that future lies in Europe as an active and productive member of the EU.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Historical Portugal

  • 5 rolle

    f; -, -n
    1. roll (auch Geld-, Papier-, Tabakrolle etc.); (Draht-, Taurolle) coil; (Papyrusrolle) roll, scroll; Rolle Garn reel of cotton, Am. spool of thread; Rolle Film roll of film; Rolle Pfefferminz roll of peppermints; eine Rolle Münzen a roll of coins
    2. (Walze) roller, cylinder; an Möbeln: castor; von Flaschenzug: pulley; ein Nachttisch auf Rollen a bedside table on castors
    3. Turnen: roll; Rolle vorwärts / rückwärts forward / backward roll
    4. fig., umg.: völlig von der Rolle sein have lost one’s grip on things; SPORT have completely lost one’s touch; ihr Tod hat ihn total von der Rolle gebracht he went completely to pieces after her death
    f; -, -n; THEAT. und fig. role, part; kleine Rolle small ( oder bit) part, minor role; führende Rolle lead; seine Rolle lernen learn one’s part ( oder lines); die Rollen eines Stückes besetzen cast a play; ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen lesen have a play-reading; die Rolle ist ihr auf den Leib geschrieben the part could have been written for her ( oder suits her down to the ground); er ist in seiner Rolle völlig aufgegangen he was completely taken over by the role; fig. he became completely absorbed in his task; eine Rolle spielen fig. play a part ( oder role) (bei, in + Dat in); eine große Rolle spielen fig. play an important part ( oder role); Person, Firma: auch be a key player; in einer Firma etc.: be in an influential position; eine untergeordnete Rolle spielen fig. play a subsidiary role, be less important; sich mit der Rolle des Zuschauers begnügen be content to be a mere spectator; eine klägliche Rolle spielen oder abgeben cut a poor figure; er spielt gern eine Rolle pej. he likes to be involved ( bei in); er gefällt sich in der Rolle des... he likes playing the...; sich in der Rolle der Hausfrau etc. ( nicht) wohl fühlen (not) feel at home in the role of a housewife etc.; Spiel mit vertauschten Rollen reversal of roles; das spielt keine Rolle it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t make any difference; Geld spielt keine Rolle money is no object; aus der Rolle fallen step out of line; stärker: forget oneself
    * * *
    die Rolle
    (Gerolltes) roll; coil;
    (Spule) spool; reel;
    (Theater) part; person; role;
    (Walze) roller
    * * *
    Rọl|le ['rɔlə]
    f -, -n
    1) (= Zusammengerolltes) roll; (= Garnrolle, Zwirnrolle) reel, bobbin (spec); (= Papierrolle) reel; (= Urkunde) scroll

    eine Rolle Garn/Zwirn — a reel of thread

    eine Rolle Bindfaden — a ball of string

    eine Rolle Toilettenpapier — a toilet roll, a roll of toilet paper

    eine Rolle Drops — a tube of fruit drops

    eine Rolle Filma roll of film; (im Kino) a reel of film

    2) (= kleines Rad, Walze) roller; (an Möbeln, Kisten) caster, castor; (an Flaschenzug) pulley; (= Gardinenrolle) runner

    von der Rolle sein (fig inf)to have lost it (inf)

    3) (SPORT, AVIAT) roll

    eine Rolle machento do a roll

    eine Rolle vorwärts/rückwärts — a forward/backward roll

    4) (THEAT, FILM fig) role, part; (SOCIOL) role

    es war ein Spiel mit vertauschten Rollen (fig)it was a situation where the roles were reversed

    ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen lesento read a play with the parts cast; (in Schule) to read a play with the parts given out

    der literarische Kreis liest jeden Dienstag ein Stück mit verteilten Rollen — the literary circle has a play-reading every Tuesday

    in der Rolle von jdm/etw auftreten — to appear in the role of sb/sth

    in der Rolle des... (fig)he likes to think of or see himself in the role of the...

    sich in die Rolle eines anderen versetzen (fig)to put oneself in sb else's place

    eine Rolle spielen — to play a part in sth; (Mensch auch) to play a role in sth

    als Lehrer hat er eine klägliche Rolle gespieltas a teacher he was not up to much or he left much to be desired

    es spielt keine Rolle, (ob)... — it doesn't matter (whether)..., it doesn't make any difference (whether)..., whether... doesn't come into it

    aus der Rolle fallen (fig) — to do/say the wrong thing

    5) (dial = Wäschemangel) roller iron
    * * *
    die
    1) (a person in a play, novel etc: Rosencrantz is a minor character in Shakespeare's `Hamlet'.) character
    2) (a character in a play etc: She played the part of the queen.) part
    3) (the words, actions etc of a character in a play etc: He learned his part quickly.) part
    4) (a person's share, responsibility etc in doing something: He played a great part in the government's decision.) part
    5) (a wheel over which a rope etc can pass in order to lift heavy objects.) pulley
    6) (a part played by an actor or actress in a play etc: He is playing the rôle of King Lear.) rôle
    7) (the actions or functions of a person in some activity: He played the rôle of peacemaker in the dispute.) rôle
    8) (a part played by an actor or actress in a play etc: He is playing the rôle of King Lear.) role
    9) (the actions or functions of a person in some activity: He played the rôle of peacemaker in the dispute.) role
    10) (anything flat (eg a piece of paper, a carpet) rolled into the shape of a tube, wound round a tube etc: a roll of kitchen foil; a toilet-roll.) roll
    11) (a small solid wheel or cylinder on which something can be rolled along.) roller
    12) (a round wheel-shaped or cylindrical object of wood, metal etc on which thread, film, fishing-lines etc can be wound: a reel of sewing-cotton; He changed the reel in the projector.) reel
    * * *
    Rol·le
    <-, -n>
    [ˈrɔlə]
    f
    1. (aufgewickeltes Material) roll; (um Hohlkörper gewickelt) reel esp BRIT, spool esp AM
    Tapete wird in \Rollen verkauft wallpaper is sold in rolls
    eine \Rolle Draht a reel [or spool] of wire
    eine \Rolle Film a roll [or BRIT reel] [or spool] of film
    eine \Rolle Garn a reel of cotton BRIT, a spool of thread
    eine \Rolle Toilettenpapier a roll of toilet paper, a toilet roll BRIT
    2. (zu einer Röhre verpackte Gegenstände) roll; (in fester Verpackung) tube
    eine \Rolle Eurostücke a roll of one euro pieces
    eine \Rolle Kekse a [round] packet of biscuits
    eine \Rolle Pfefferminzbonbons a roll of mints
    eine \Rolle Smarties® a tube of Smarties®
    3. (Laufrad) roller; (an Möbeln) castor, caster; (Flaschenzug) pulley
    wir können das Klavier nur auf \Rollen verschieben we'll need to move the piano on rollers
    4. (Turnübung) roll
    eine \Rolle vorwärts/rückwärts a forward/backward roll
    eine \Rolle machen to do a roll
    5. DIAL (Wäschemangel) mangle, wringer
    6. KOCHK (Nudelholz) rolling pin
    7. (im Radsport) roller (on a pacing motorcycle)
    8. FILM, THEAT role, part
    er war sehr gut in der \Rolle des Königs he was very good in the part of the king
    sie gefiel sich in der \Rolle der Heldin she liked playing the role of the heroine
    in der \Rolle von jdm auftreten to appear in the role of sb
    mit verteilten \Rollen with each role cast
    sie lasen das Stück mit verteilten \Rollen they read the play with the parts cast
    9. (Beteiligung, Part) role, part
    in der Situation waren die \Rollen vertauscht it was a situation where the roles were reversed
    jds \Rolle bei etw dat sb's role [or part] in sth
    ich sehe meine \Rolle bei diesem Projekt als Organisatorin I see my role in this project as an organizer
    in jds \Rolle schlüpfen (fam) to slip into sb's role [or the role of sb]
    sich akk in jds \Rolle versetzen to put oneself in sb's place
    10. SOZIOL role
    ein Ehe mit streng verteilten \Rollen a marriage with strict allocation of roles
    sie weigerte sich, die traditionelle \Rolle der Frau zu übernehmen she refused to take the traditional woman's role
    11.
    seine \Rolle ausgespielt haben to be finished
    aus der \Rolle fallen to behave badly
    von der \Rolle kommen (fam) to get left behind, to lose ground
    [bei etw dat/in etw dat] [für jdn] eine \Rolle spielen to play a role [or part] [in sth] [for sb]
    das spielt doch keine \Rolle! it's of no importance!, it doesn't matter!
    das spielt jetzt keine \Rolle that does not concern us now
    das Alter spielt natürlich eine wichtige \Rolle of course, age plays an important part [or role]
    Geld spielt bei ihr keine \Rolle with her money is no object
    es spielt keine \Rolle, ob/wie... it doesn't matter whether/how...
    * * *
    die; Rolle, Rollen
    1) (Spule) reel; spool
    2) (zylindrischer [Hohl]körper; Zusammengerolltes) roll; (SchriftRolle) scroll

    eine Rolle Bindfaden/Zweieurostücke/Kekse — a reel of string/roll of two-euro pieces/[round] packet of biscuits

    3) (Walze) roller; (TeigRolle) rolling pin
    4) (Rad) [small] wheel; (an Möbeln usw.) castor; (für Gardine, Schiebetür usw.) runner
    5) (Turnen, Kunstflug) roll
    6) (Theater, Film usw., fig.) role; part; (Soziol.) role

    [bei jemandem/einer Sache] eine entscheidende Rolle spielen — be of crucial importance [to somebody/for something]

    es spielt keine Rolle — it is of no importance; (es macht nichts aus) it doesn't matter

    * * *
    …rolle f im subst
    1. THEAT etc:
    Bühnenrolle stage part;
    Fernsehrolle television part;
    Serienrolle part in a series
    2. fig:
    Beschützerrolle role of protector;
    Mutterrolle role of mother;
    Vaterrolle role of father
    * * *
    die; Rolle, Rollen
    1) (Spule) reel; spool
    2) (zylindrischer [Hohl]körper; Zusammengerolltes) roll; (SchriftRolle) scroll

    eine Rolle Bindfaden/Zweieurostücke/Kekse — a reel of string/roll of two-euro pieces/[round] packet of biscuits

    3) (Walze) roller; (TeigRolle) rolling pin
    4) (Rad) [small] wheel; (an Möbeln usw.) castor; (für Gardine, Schiebetür usw.) runner
    5) (Turnen, Kunstflug) roll
    6) (Theater, Film usw., fig.) role; part; (Soziol.) role

    [bei jemandem/einer Sache] eine entscheidende Rolle spielen — be of crucial importance [to somebody/for something]

    es spielt keine Rolle — it is of no importance; (es macht nichts aus) it doesn't matter

    * * *
    -n (Theater, Film) f.
    role n. -n f.
    character n.
    part n.
    role n.
    roll n.
    roller n.

    Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch > rolle

  • 6 protagonismo

    m.
    1 leading role.
    2 prominence.
    * * *
    1 leading role
    \
    restar protagonismo a alguien to steal somebody's limelight
    tener afán de protagonismo to want to be the centre of attention
    * * *
    SM
    1) (=papel) leading role; (=liderazgo) leadership
    2) (=importancia) prominence; [en sociedad] taking an active part, being socially active
    3) (=defensa) defence, defense (EEUU)
    4) (=apoyo) support
    * * *
    masculino prominence

    el protagonismo de los estudiantes en la revueltathe leading o prominent role played by the students in the revolt

    ganar protagonismo — to become more prominent/important

    * * *
    ----
    * afán de protagonismo = outburst of ego.
    * ganar protagonismo = gain in + importance.
    * perder protagonismo = fade into + the background.
    * * *
    masculino prominence

    el protagonismo de los estudiantes en la revueltathe leading o prominent role played by the students in the revolt

    ganar protagonismo — to become more prominent/important

    * * *
    * afán de protagonismo = outburst of ego.
    * ganar protagonismo = gain in + importance.
    * perder protagonismo = fade into + the background.
    * * *
    prominence
    el protagonismo estadounidense en estos campeonatos the prominence o the outstanding performance of the USA in these championships
    un papel de creciente protagonismo an increasingly prominent o important role
    con su afán de protagonismo, no deja hablar a nadie más she's so keen to be center stage o to be in the limelight that she never lets anybody else say anything
    el protagonismo de los estudiantes en la revuelta the leading o prominent role of the students in the revolt
    gana cada vez más protagonismo it is becoming more and more prominent/important
    lo ha sabido hacer sin protagonismos he has managed to do it without putting himself in the limelight
    el protagonismo de nuestro país en la escena internacional our country's leading role on the international scene
    * * *

    protagonismo sustantivo masculino
    1 (importancia, relevancia) prominence: el huracán restó protagonismo a la dimisión del presidente, the hurricane overshadowed the president's resignation
    2 (actitud) me molesta su afán de protagonismo, her desire to always be the center of attention annoys me
    ' protagonismo' also found in these entries:
    English:
    upstage
    * * *
    1. [función destacada] key role;
    los militares tuvieron un protagonismo destacado en la caída del régimen the military played a key role in the downfall of the regime
    2. [importancia] significance, importance;
    buscan un mayor protagonismo de las mujeres en la política their aim is for women to play a more prominent role in politics;
    han criticado su afán de protagonismo her desire to be the centre of attention o in the limelight has been criticized;
    el atentado restó protagonismo a la cumbre de presidentes the attack diverted attention from the presidential summit
    * * *
    m
    :
    tener protagonismo occupy center stage o Br centre stage;
    afán de protagonismo longing to be in the limelight

    Spanish-English dictionary > protagonismo

  • 7 desempeñar

    v.
    1 to perform, to carry out, to do, to fulfil.
    Elsa desempeña su trabajo bien Elsa performs her work well.
    2 to play, to act out.
    Elsa desempeña el rol de madre Elsa plays the role of a mother.
    3 to take out of pawn, to release from bond, to get out of hock, to release the lien on.
    Elsa desempeñó el reloj Elsa took the watch out of pawn.
    * * *
    1 (sacar lo empeñado) to redeem, take out of pawn
    2 (liberar a una persona de deudas) to pay the debts of
    3 (cumplir una obligación) to discharge, fulfil (US fulfill), carry out; (un cargo) to fill, hold, occupy
    4 (papel) to play
    * * *
    verb
    1) to play, fulfill
    * * *
    1. VT
    1) [+ propiedades, joyas] to redeem, get out of pawn

    desempeñar a algn — to get sb out of debt, pay sb's debts

    2) (=llevar a cabo) [+ deber, función] to perform, carry out; [+ papel] (tb Teat) to play
    3) (=ocupar) [+ cargo] to occupy, hold
    2.
    See:
    * * *
    1.
    verbo transitivo
    1)
    a) (Teatr) < papel> to play
    b) < funciones> to carry out, perform; < cargo> to hold
    2) <joyas/reloj> to redeem
    2.
    desempeñarse v pron (AmL)

    se desempeñó muy bienshe did o managed very well

    * * *
    ----
    * desempeñando muchas funciones = in many capacities.
    * desempeñar bien una función = perform + well.
    * desempeñar la labor encomendada = discharge + responsibility.
    * desempeñar la misión de uno = do + Posesivo + work.
    * desempeñar las actividades de uno = conduct + affairs.
    * desempeñar + Posesivo + cometido = carry out + Posesivo + responsibility.
    * desempeñar + Posesivo + funciones = do + Posesivo + business.
    * desempeñar una buena función = produce + the goods.
    * desempeñar una función = fulfil + purpose, perform + function, play + role, discharge + function, discharge + duty, perform + role, articulate + role, fit into + the picture, play + Posesivo + part.
    * desempeñar una misión = fulfil + mission.
    * desempeñar una obligación = fulfil + duty, perform + duty.
    * desempeñar una profesión = practise + profession.
    * desempeñar una tarea = carry out + task, cope with + task, perform + task.
    * desempeñar un papel = fulfil + role, perform + role, fit into + the picture, play + role.
    * desempeñar un papel secundario = play + second fiddle.
    * desempeñar un trabajo = exercise + work.
    * * *
    1.
    verbo transitivo
    1)
    a) (Teatr) < papel> to play
    b) < funciones> to carry out, perform; < cargo> to hold
    2) <joyas/reloj> to redeem
    2.
    desempeñarse v pron (AmL)

    se desempeñó muy bienshe did o managed very well

    * * *
    * desempeñando muchas funciones = in many capacities.
    * desempeñar bien una función = perform + well.
    * desempeñar la labor encomendada = discharge + responsibility.
    * desempeñar la misión de uno = do + Posesivo + work.
    * desempeñar las actividades de uno = conduct + affairs.
    * desempeñar + Posesivo + cometido = carry out + Posesivo + responsibility.
    * desempeñar + Posesivo + funciones = do + Posesivo + business.
    * desempeñar una buena función = produce + the goods.
    * desempeñar una función = fulfil + purpose, perform + function, play + role, discharge + function, discharge + duty, perform + role, articulate + role, fit into + the picture, play + Posesivo + part.
    * desempeñar una misión = fulfil + mission.
    * desempeñar una obligación = fulfil + duty, perform + duty.
    * desempeñar una profesión = practise + profession.
    * desempeñar una tarea = carry out + task, cope with + task, perform + task.
    * desempeñar un papel = fulfil + role, perform + role, fit into + the picture, play + role.
    * desempeñar un papel secundario = play + second fiddle.
    * desempeñar un trabajo = exercise + work.
    * * *
    vt
    A
    1 ( Teatr) to play
    desempeñó el papel de Electra she played the part of Electra
    2 ‹función›
    la función que desempeñan los pulmones the function of the lungs
    en ausencia del jefe tuvo que desempeñar sus funciones she had to carry out the boss's duties while he was away
    desempeña un cargo de mucha responsabilidad she holds o has a very responsible position
    no tiene la experiencia necesaria para desempeñar el cargo he doesn't have the necessary experience for the post
    desempeñó su cometido con mucho acierto she carried out her assignment o ( frml) she discharged her duties admirably
    desempeñó un papel muy importante en las negociaciones he played a very important role in the negotiations
    ha desempeñado las más diversas actividades he has engaged in a very wide range of activities
    B ‹joyas/reloj› to redeem
    ( AmL): dale una oportunidad y veremos cómo se desempeña give him a chance and let's see how he makes out
    se desempeñó muy bien she did o managed very well, she acquitted herself very well ( frml)
    * * *

     

    desempeñar ( conjugate desempeñar) verbo transitivo
    a) (Teatr) ‹ papel to play


    cargo to hold
    desempeñarse verbo pronominal (AmL):

    se desempeñó muy bien she did o managed very well
    desempeñar verbo transitivo
    1 (un puesto) to hold, occupy
    (una función) to fulfil
    (un papel) to play
    2 (recuperar de la casa de empeños) to redeem

    ' desempeñar' also found in these entries:
    Spanish:
    cumplir
    English:
    fill
    - fulfil
    - fulfill
    - hold down
    - redeem
    - role
    - execute
    - function
    - perform
    * * *
    vt
    1. [función, misión] to carry out;
    [puesto, cargo] to hold, to have; [papel] to play;
    desempeñó la misión de tener informada a la prensa her mission was to keep the press informed;
    desempeña el cargo de tesorero he holds the post of treasurer;
    le tocó desempeñar un papel decisivo en el proceso de paz it fell to him to play a key role in the peace process;
    desempeñó en muchas ocasiones el papel de Drácula he played (the part of) Dracula many times
    2. [objetos, joyas, reloj] to redeem
    * * *
    v/t
    1 deber, tarea carry out
    2 cargo hold
    3 papel play
    4 cosa empeñada redeem
    * * *
    1) : to play (a role)
    2) : to fulfill, to carry out
    3) : to redeem (from a pawnshop)
    * * *
    1. (papel) to play
    2. (cargo) to hold [pt. & pp. held]

    Spanish-English dictionary > desempeñar

  • 8 personal investigador

    Ex. This initiative has played a key role in ensuring that the important contribution of research staff is more widely recognised.
    * * *

    Ex: This initiative has played a key role in ensuring that the important contribution of research staff is more widely recognised.

    Spanish-English dictionary > personal investigador

  • 9 sionista

    adj.
    Zionist.
    f. & m.
    Zionist, Zionite.
    * * *
    1 Zionist
    1 Zionist
    * * *
    ADJ SMF Zionist
    * * *
    adjetivo/masculino y femenino Zionist
    * * *
    Ex. The libraries played a key role in the institutionalization of the city's cultural centre and contributed to the Zionist premise of a Jewish cultural renaissance in Palestine.
    * * *
    adjetivo/masculino y femenino Zionist
    * * *

    Ex: The libraries played a key role in the institutionalization of the city's cultural centre and contributed to the Zionist premise of a Jewish cultural renaissance in Palestine.

    * * *
    adj/mf
    Zionist
    * * *
    adj
    Zionist
    nmf
    Zionist
    * * *
    sionista adj & nmf
    : Zionist
    sionismo nm

    Spanish-English dictionary > sionista

  • 10 роль

    ж.
    1) театр, кино role; театр тж. part

    роль второ́го пла́на — supporting role

    распределя́ть роли — cast roles / parts

    игра́ть роль (рд.) — play the role / part (of)

    игра́ть роль Га́млета — play / act Hamlet

    игра́ть гла́вную роль — play the leading part; (перен. тж.) play first fiddle идиом. разг.

    2) ( текст роли) lines pl

    учи́ть роль — learn one's lines

    3) ( функции) role, function

    игра́ть роль хозя́йки [сове́тчика] — act as hostess [adviser]

    поменя́ться роля́ми — switch / swap roles

    4) ( значение) role, significance

    роль Пу́шкина в исто́рии ру́сской литерату́ры — Pushkin's role in the history of Russian literature

    ••

    в роли (рд.) — in the role (of); acting (as); as

    войти́ в роль — get into one's role; (рд.) get into the role (of)

    вы́держать роль — keep up a part, sustain an act

    вы́йти из роли (рд.) — abandon / relinguish the role (of)

    на пе́рвых роля́х — in a key role / position sg

    на вторы́х роля́х — in a supporting role sg

    игра́ть роль (иметь значение) — matter, count, be of importance

    э́то не игра́ет роли — it is of no importance, it does not matter at all

    игра́ть гла́вную / важне́йшую роль — be of primary importance

    э́то сыгра́ло свою́ роль — it has played its part

    игра́ть глу́пую роль — act a silly part

    Новый большой русско-английский словарь > роль

  • 11 Slavery and Slave trade, Portuguese

       The Portuguese role in the Atlantic slave trade (ca. 1500-1850), next to Portugal's motives for empire and the nature of her colonial rule, remains one of the most controversial historical questions. The institution of slavery was conventional in Roman and Visigothic Portugal, and the Catholic Church sanctioned it. The origins of an international traffic in enslaved African captives in the Atlantic are usually dated to after the year 1411, when the first black African slaves were brought to Portugal (Lagos) and sold, but there were activities a century earlier that indicated the beginnings. In the 1340s, under King Afonso IV, Portuguese had captured native islanders on voyages to the Canary Islands and later used them as slave labor in the sugar plantations of Madeira. After 1500, and especially after the 1550s, when African slave-worked plantations became established in Brazil and other American colonies, the Atlantic slave trade became a vast international enterprise in which Portugal played a key role. But all the European maritime powers were involved in the slave trade from 1500 to 1800, including Great Britain, France, and Holland, those countries that eventually pressured Portugal to cease the slave trade in its empire.
       No one knows the actual numbers of Africans enslaved in the nefarious business, but it is clear that millions of persons during more than three-and-a-half centuries were forcibly stolen from African societies and that the survivors of the terrible slave voyages helped build the economies of the Americas. Portugal's role in the trade was as controversial as its impact on Portuguese society. Comparatively large numbers of African slaves resided in Portugal, although the precise number remains a mystery; by the last quarter of the 18th century, when the prime minister of King José I, the Marquis of Pombal abolished slavery in Portugal, the African racial element had been largely absorbed in Portuguese society.
       Great Portuguese fortunes were built on the African slave trade in Portugal, Brazil, and Angola, and the slave trade continued in the Portuguese empire until the 1850s and 1860s. The Angolan slave trade across the Atlantic was doomed after Brazil banned the import of slaves in 1850, under great pressure from Britain. As for slavery in Portugal's African empire, various forms of this institution, including forced labor, continued in Angola and Mozambique until the early 1960s. A curious vestige of the Portuguese role in the African slave trade over the centuries is found in the family name, appearing in Lisbon telephone books, of Negreiro, which means literally, "One who trades in (African) Negro slaves."

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Slavery and Slave trade, Portuguese

  • 12 Costa Gomes, Francisco da

    (1914-2001)
       Career military officer, key personality, and authority in transition from dictatorship to democracy, and president of the republic. Born in the remote, poor, Trás-Os-Montes district, Costa Gomes was trained as an army officer and gained experience and promotions in many postings in Portugal's overseas empire from Macau, China, to Angola and Mozambique. As a lieutenant colonel in the post of undersecretary of the army in April 1961, he was implicated in a military coup plot to overthrow Prime Minister Antônio de Oliveira Salazar. Although he was fired, Costa Gomes rebuilt his bridges, was promoted to brigadier general in 1964, and soon was appointed to important commands in the colonial wars in Portuguese Africa: first in Mozambique (1965-69) and then in Angola (1970-72). In September 1972, he returned to Portugal as head of the joint chiefs of staff, a post he kept until he broke with Prime Minister Marcello Caetano in early 1974.
       During the last part of Caetano's governance, General Costa Gomes, in tandem with his senior, more famous and charismatic colleague in arms, General Antônio de Spínola, was involved in activities that led to the organization of a successful military coup on 25 April 1974, which overthrew the 48-year-old Estado Novo. Although younger officers did most of the work organizing this action, Costa Gomes played a key role, including authorizing the publication of the sensational book by General Spínola, Portugal e o Futuro, published only two months before the Revolution of Carnations in February 1974. Spinola's book acknowledged that Portugal had to find a political not a military solution to the wars in her African colonies, and the public reception of the work helped prepare the atmosphere for a bloodless coup.
       After the successful coup by the Armed Forces Movement and the Revolution of 25 April 1974, Costa Gomes was appointed chief of defense staff. When General Spínola resigned in September 1974, Costa Gomes became president, a post he ably filled until June 1976, when General Ramalho Eanes was elected president of the republic. Costa Gomes soon withdrew from the public eye, but in 1981 was promoted to Portugal's highest military rank of marshal.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Costa Gomes, Francisco da

  • 13 Macau

       Portuguese colonial territory in south China. Portugal's last colony, in effect, and by agreement turned over to the People's Republic of China in 1999. Since Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in 1557, this tiny territory of 11 square kilometers (7 square miles) has been a Portuguese colony headed by a Portuguese administration. Long a dependency of the Viceroyalty of Goa, Portuguese India, Macau's prosperity depended on the vicissitudes of diplomatic and trade relations between China and the West. For nearly three centuries (ca. 1557-1842), Macau was the only Western entrepót-outpost-enclave-colony on the China coast. Even after Japan expelled Western traders in the 17th century, Macau had a key role as the link between China and the West. This role changed after Great Britain seized neighboring Hong Kong (1842) as a colony. Thereafter, Macau fell into the shadow of a booming Hong Kong.
       While it was a remote dependency of Portugal in the Far East, Macau has long played a multiplicity of roles: China's window on the West, preempted in the 1840s by Hong Kong; sanctuary and refuge for various waves of refugees from China or Hong Kong; because of its peculiar international status and location, a center of vice (gambling, smuggling, prostitution, and drug traffic); and a meeting place and exchange point for the Chinese and Portuguese civilizations.
       Following the Revolution of 25 April 1974, Lisbon offered to return Macau to mainland China, but the offer was refused, and negotiations between China and Portugal ensued. In the 1980s, China and Portugal negotiated a settlement whereby Portuguese sovereignty would continue until December 1999; "a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration" was the formula's general description. Chinese businessmen controlled Macau's economy, including its lucrative gambling and tourist industries, while Portugal provided nominal law and order. The settlement included a pledge by China that protection for the use of Portuguese language and the maintenance of democratic liberties would be continued for at least 50 years. In late December 1999, the last Portuguese governor-general hauled down the flag of Portugal, and the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty over Macau. In effect, Portugal's formal overseas empire ceased with this historic change. During colonial times, Macau was known for its gambling casinos. Since its return to China, gambling has become its biggest industry and, in 2006, Macau overtook Las Vegas in gaming revenue.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Macau

  • 14 United States of America

    (USA)
       Portugal and the United States established full and formal diplomatic relations in 1791, and the first commercial treaty between them was signed in 1840. The two very different countries have been linked by geography and by Portuguese immigration to the United States. Both share the status of being Atlantic powers. Significant Portuguese immigration to the eastern seaboard, especially to coastal New England, began in the first half of the 19th century, but the numbers of Lusitanian immigrants reached their peak only after 1910. Although there was relatively little trade between the two countries until after 1880, Portugal's diplomats briefly toyed with the notion of using the United States as a counterweight ally to her oldest ally, Great Britain, especially during the era of bitter territorial and trade disputes between Britain and Portugal over south-central Africa after 1850.
       It was during the 20th century, however, that Luso-American diplomatic relations assumed a new importance, and again the Atlantic connection played a key role. On two occasions during world wars, in 1917-18 and 1944-45, the United States armed forces used the Azores Islands for air and naval bases. In 1951, Portugal and the United States signed the first major Azores base agreements, at first as part of America's Cold War defense strategy needs. The Azores base question has assumed an essential role in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
       The United States also sponsored Portugal's entry in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). American trade and investment in Portugal increased significantly since the 1940s and, by 1980, the United States had become one of Portugal's main trade partners. By the 1990s, this relationship experienced some changes, as Portugal's membership in the European Union (EU) strengthened the trade positions of EU members such as Britain, Germany, France, and Spain. Luso-American cultural relations, however, including the increasing knowledge of English in Portugal, became closer. Among the factors responsible for this were the presence of a larger American community in Portugal, American investment, the Fulbright exchange program, and American-language schools, whose activity suggested that English taught in British-language schools in Portugal no longer held a clear monopoly.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > United States of America

  • 15 поворотные моменты истории

    Универсальный русско-английский словарь > поворотные моменты истории

  • 16 GPO (Imprenta del Gobierno Americano)

    Ex. In her present position, Ms. Hoduski has played a key role in LC's and GPO's (Government Printing Office) cooperative effort to include GPO-generated cataloging in the MARC services and the new GPO Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications.

    Spanish-English dictionary > GPO (Imprenta del Gobierno Americano)

  • 17 oriental

    adj.
    1 eastern.
    2 Uruguayan. ( Latin American Spanish)
    3 Oriental, Eastern, easterly, pertaining to the Orient.
    f. & m.
    1 oriental.
    2 Uruguayan. ( Latin American Spanish)
    * * *
    1 eastern, oriental
    1 Oriental
    * * *
    adj.
    * * *
    1. ADJ
    1) [persona] oriental; [región, zona] eastern
    2) Cono Sur (=uruguayo) Uruguayan
    3) Cuba of/from Oriente province
    2. SMF
    1) (=persona de Oriente) oriental
    2) Cono Sur (=uruguayo) Uruguayan
    3) Cuba native/inhabitant of Oriente province
    * * *
    I
    adjetivo ( del este) Eastern; ( del Lejano Oriente) Oriental; ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    II
    masculino y femenino ( del Lejano Oriente) Oriental; ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    * * *
    = eastern, oriental, Easterner, Far Eastern.
    Ex. He went on to explain that while there were no unsightly slums, there was a fairly large district of rather nondescript homes intermingled with plain two- and three-family brick and frame dwellings, principally in the eastern reaches of the city.
    Ex. To gauge the full impact on the BNB one must add to these Arabic publications half a dozen books in Kurdish, not forgetting the ever-growing list of translations of oriental works.
    Ex. Western feminists must abandon their tendency to diminish diverse feminist discourses so Westerners & Easterners can enter into a dialogue on gender issues that includes the many existing feminisms.
    Ex. The Dutch, too, started making cigars using tobacco from their Far Eastern colonies.
    ----
    * Africa Oriental = East Africa.
    * cultura oriental = Eastern culture.
    * hemisferio oriental, el = Eastern Hemisphere, the.
    * jardín oriental = oriental garden.
    * Timor Oriental = East Timor.
    * * *
    I
    adjetivo ( del este) Eastern; ( del Lejano Oriente) Oriental; ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    II
    masculino y femenino ( del Lejano Oriente) Oriental; ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    * * *
    = eastern, oriental, Easterner, Far Eastern.

    Ex: He went on to explain that while there were no unsightly slums, there was a fairly large district of rather nondescript homes intermingled with plain two- and three-family brick and frame dwellings, principally in the eastern reaches of the city.

    Ex: To gauge the full impact on the BNB one must add to these Arabic publications half a dozen books in Kurdish, not forgetting the ever-growing list of translations of oriental works.
    Ex: Western feminists must abandon their tendency to diminish diverse feminist discourses so Westerners & Easterners can enter into a dialogue on gender issues that includes the many existing feminisms.
    Ex: The Dutch, too, started making cigars using tobacco from their Far Eastern colonies.
    * Africa Oriental = East Africa.
    * cultura oriental = Eastern culture.
    * hemisferio oriental, el = Eastern Hemisphere, the.
    * jardín oriental = oriental garden.
    * Timor Oriental = East Timor.

    * * *
    1 (del este) Eastern
    3 ( AmL) (uruguayo) Uruguayan
    2 ( AmL) (uruguayo) Uruguayan
    * * *

    oriental adjetivo ( del este) eastern;
    ( del Lejano Oriente) oriental;
    ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    ■ sustantivo masculino y femenino ( del Lejano Oriente) oriental;
    ( uruguayo) (AmL) Uruguayan
    oriental
    I adjetivo eastern, oriental
    II mf Oriental
    ' oriental' also found in these entries:
    Spanish:
    achinada
    - achinado
    - palillo
    - amarillo
    - bazar
    - jalado
    - plátano
    - República Oriental del Uruguay
    English:
    bazaar
    - East
    - easterly
    - eastern
    - Eastern Europe
    - Oriental
    - chopstick
    - east
    - oriental
    - rickshaw
    * * *
    adj
    1. [del este] eastern;
    [del Lejano Oriente] oriental
    2. Am [uruguayo] Uruguayan
    3. [de Oriente, Venezuela] of/from Oriente
    nmf
    1. [del Lejano Oriente] oriental
    2. Am [uruguayo] Uruguayan;
    Hist
    los 33 orientales = group of Uruguayans who played a key role in the wars of independence by regaining control, in April 1825, of the area that was then eastern Uruguay
    3. [persona de Oriente, Venezuela] person from Oriente
    * * *
    I adj
    1 oriental, eastern
    2 S.Am.
    Uruguayan
    II m/f
    1 Oriental
    2 S.Am.
    Uruguayan
    * * *
    1) : eastern
    2) : oriental
    3) Arg, Uru : Uruguayan
    1) : Easterner
    2) : Oriental
    3) Arg, Uru : Uruguayan
    * * *
    oriental1 adj
    1. (en general) eastern
    2. (persona) Asian

    Spanish-English dictionary > oriental

  • 18 GPO

    GPO (Imprenta del Gobierno Americano)

    Ex: In her present position, Ms. Hoduski has played a key role in LC's and GPO's (Government Printing Office) cooperative effort to include GPO-generated cataloging in the MARC services and the new GPO Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications.

    Spanish-English dictionary > GPO

  • 19 Franco, Generalíssimo Francisco

    (1892-1975)
       Spain's soldier-dictator whose Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. General Franco's personal and diplomatic relations with Portugal's prime minister Antônio de Oliveira Salazar since the late 1930s were a significant element in the Estado Novo's foreign policy in World War II and the Cold War. Salazar played a key role in helping convince Franco and his ruling group during the menacing years of 1939-41 not to join the Axis powers in World War II. For his part, Franco supported Salazar's concept of an Iberian bloc of states in various diplomatic and political initiatives, beginning with the Luso-Spanish agreements signed in 1939 and 1940. During the Cold War, Franco's Spain pursued a policy that gave support to Salazar's Estado Novo.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Franco, Generalíssimo Francisco

  • 20 Henry of Aviz, Prince

    (1394-1460)
       Known to the Portuguese as "O Infante Dom Henrique," as an heir to his father's throne, Prince Henry the Navigator was born in Oporto. His Father was King João I (r. 1357-1433) and his mother was Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt. As a young prince, Henry won his knighthood as a member of the Portuguese expedition that captured the Moroccan city of Ceuta in 1415, the beginning of Portugal's overseas expansion and the onset of the European age of exploration and discovery.
       The life and work of Prince Henry are steeped in centuries of myth and legend. Reliable historical research suggests that the prince played a key role in the early phases of the Portuguese discoveries due to his patronage of expeditions, sailors, and navigators and his use of the important funds of the knightly Order of Christ, of which he was in control. Prince Henry, nevertheless, was not solely responsible for more than one-third of the exploration ventures during his time, possessed strongly medieval ways, did not create the so-called "School of Sagres" for navigators, and certainly was ignorant of much Renaissance science. Although he did participate nobly in the Ceuta adventure, as far as the voyages down the coast of Africa and into the Atlantic until his death in 1460 are concerned, Prince Henry was an armchair navigator who did not visit Africa beyond Morocco.

    Historical dictionary of Portugal > Henry of Aviz, Prince

См. также в других словарях:

  • play a key role — play a key/major/important role/part (in sth) (also have a key/major/important role/part to play (in sth)) ► to have a lot of power or influence in a particular situation: »His financial expertise played a major role in London City airport s… …   Financial and business terms

  • play a key role in sth — play a key/major/important role/part (in sth) (also have a key/major/important role/part to play (in sth)) ► to have a lot of power or influence in a particular situation: »His financial expertise played a major role in London City airport s… …   Financial and business terms

  • play a key role/part — play a key/major/important role/part (in sth) (also have a key/major/important role/part to play (in sth)) ► to have a lot of power or influence in a particular situation: »His financial expertise played a major role in London City airport s… …   Financial and business terms

  • play a key role/part in sth — play a key/major/important role/part (in sth) (also have a key/major/important role/part to play (in sth)) ► to have a lot of power or influence in a particular situation: »His financial expertise played a major role in London City airport s… …   Financial and business terms

  • role — [ roul ] noun count *** 1. ) the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation: It s not my role to tell the politicians what to do. role in: We expect parents to have a key role in this discussion. play a role: Labor… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • role */*/*/ — UK [rəʊl] / US [roʊl] noun [countable] Word forms role : singular role plural roles 1) the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation It s not my role to tell the politicians what to do. role in: We expect parents to… …   English dictionary

  • role*/*/*/ — [rəʊl] noun [C] 1) the purpose or influence that someone or something has It s not my role to tell the politicians what to do.[/ex] The book examines the role of food and drink in society.[/ex] We expect parents to have a key role in this… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • role — noun (C) 1 the way in which someone or something is involved in an activity or situation, and how much influence they have on it: play a leading/major/key role (=be important in making changes happen): Mandela played a leading role in ending… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Role of foreign fighters in the Bosnian War — The Bosnian War, which was fought between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia, attracted large numbers of foreign fighters and mercenaries from various countries. Volunteers came to fight for a variety of reasons including religious or… …   Wikipedia

  • role — W3 [rəul US roul] n [Date: 1600 1700; : French; Origin: rôle roll, role , from Old French rolle; ROLL2] 1.) the way in which someone or something is involved in an activity or situation, and how much influence they have on it role in ▪ the role… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Role-playing game — A role playing game (RPG; often roleplaying game) is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters.cite web url = http://www.darkshire.net/ jhkim/rpg/whatis/ title = What is a Role Playing Game? accessdate = 2008 09 09 …   Wikipedia

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