School military education and the construction of a national identity in Portugal in the passage from the 19th to the 20th century

The liberal and republican discourses produced in Portugal in the transition from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century emphasized the figure of the citizensoldier as part of the civic cult of the Nation. The ideal citizen of the new Republic, proclaimed at last in 1910, should be orderly, disciplined, morally exemplary and physically fit to address the harshness and needs of the war, besides being an unconditional lover of his Homeland. With this article we intend to promote a reflection on the purposes and character of the youth militarization project developed, in two different moments of the above-mentioned period, under the predominant influence of republicanism. Forwarding both moments of the study, our concern goes to the relations between military instruction and other curricular areas, particularly physical education, and moral and civic education. We will pay attention to the ritual practices that are developed which are an alternative to the catholic ritualism. In addition, the controversies with expression in the pedagogical field that have permanently accompanied the implementation of military preparation are analysed. Finally, we will seek to integrate the aforementioned project within the framework of international experiences, which had the same goals