Políticas da cultura em Portugal e Espanha

This paper discusses the subject of cultural politics, combining two key concepts for the social sciences: culture and power. Despite de decrease in the public investment in social politics, the analysis of the cultural field reveals an increase in its presence in both national and international spheres. There are many reasons that account for the public intervention of states in culture, which are mainly concerned with the assumption that it is a collective good that should be shared and accessed by all citizens. This results in the production of social and political discourses concerning the benefits of culture regarding social cohesion, development and progress, as shown by this analysis of the cultural politics of both Portugal and Spain.