This book analyses the Europeanisation of the Portuguese political system in the context of globalisation and the so-called third wave of democratisation. It pursues the thesis that democratisation and Europeanisation are two intertwined processes in the case of Portugal. Integration into the European Union has changed considerably the rationalities within the political structures of the Portuguese political system.

Furthermore, the author stresses the necessity to encourage greater political participation of the population at all levels of the political system by devizing more participatory institutions. Such a project can be only a longterm one, but it has already been initiated in Portugal. The project of sustainable democracy is presented as a clear alternative to a more formal definition of democracy. It implies that democratic structures and cultures become strong over time and sustain democratic patterns of behaviour in periods of crisis.

Such a project is linked to the necessity of reinforcing the already existing people- and environment-oriented public policies of the Portuguese government.