Ferrovia como infraestrutura crítica: estudo de caso dos caminhos de ferro coloniais de Angola, c. 1870-1930

Abstract

In the 1880s, Portuguese colonial authorities promoted the construction of railways in Angola. In this article, I analyse this historical process from the point of view of the concept of critical infrastructure. I argue that the absence of railways in Angola was a cause for concern and fostered a sense of urgency among Portuguese colonialists, as it could jeopardize the imperial project. Additionally, railways were considered critical to solidify Portuguese authority over Angolan territory and to develop the exploitation of local resources. During construction and operation, these infrastructures developed several vulnerabilities (both financial and technical) that could limit their potential. Portuguese decision-makers were forced to find solutions to strengthen the resilience of their railways. This article offers a new perspective on the colonial railways in Angola, through a literature review and the use of several primary sources.

Keywords

• colonialism
• Angola
• railways
• imperialism
• scramble for Africa
• history of technology