Contemporary Portuguese Migration Experiences in Brazil: Old Routes, New Trends

This chapter discusses the contemporary migration of the Portuguese to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo – destinations that are far from being new to Portuguese emigrants. However, contemporary migration movements do exhibit some novel features: the social composition of these groups and their positioning strategies differ from those of previous movements. These novel features deserve to be analysed in the light of current economic, political and cultural conditions. By examining the profiles, projects and expectations of a group of 50 Portuguese migrants and their families residing in Rio and São Paulo, the chapter aims to contribute to our understanding of this new migratory flow. It further seeks to frame and situate this particular wave in the long Portuguese experience of migration – as well as to contribute to debates about its impact on the relationships between the two countries. We argue that, in spite of the differences between this group and earlier waves of Portuguese migration, there are significant factors linked to the colonial and post-colonial relationships between the two countries that continue to structure the main representations of Brazil as a migration destination for the Portuguese population.