When Salazar Refused the Position of Rector of the University of Coimbra

In the 1920s, António de Oliveira Salazar was a full professor at the University of Coimbra, already recognized for his deep knowledge of his field. During that period, he was invited to take on the position of Rector, a prestigious role many would have desired. Salazar refused, justifying his decision with a phrase that became famous: “Better to govern a country than a university.”

The phrase reveals more than ambition: it reflects a clear perception of the academic environment. The University of Coimbra was not merely an educational institution; it was also a stage for subtle rivalries, prestige games, and inflated egos. Many professors were driven by personal interests and alliances, and managing the institution could turn into a minefield of intrigues. To accept the Rectorship would mean navigating this complex world, something Salazar chose to avoid.

During this period, he remained attentive to the University’s internal dynamics. He knew that seemingly neutral decisions could depend on informal agreements among influential professors, and that the Rector’s role often placed its holder at the center of discreet pressures, disputes, and alliances. By declining the position, he preserved his autonomy and kept away from power games, focusing on academic work without exposing himself to tensions that could compromise any decision.

Coimbra in the 1920s was a city where tradition blended with subtle disputes of influence. Between faculty councils and private meetings, some decisions on appointments or resource distribution were made outside official bodies, in discreet conversations among groups of professors. Salazar understood these mechanisms and kept his distance, aware that academic life had its own politics, invisible to those who saw only the buildings and the classrooms.

Even while refusing the Rectorship, he remained attentive to what was happening around him. The tensions between faculties, the ways prestige conflicts were resolved, and the need to negotiate spaces of influence were scenarios Salazar observed with clarity. His understanding of the academic environment shows that his choice was not merely about avoiding responsibilities, but about realistically assessing the risks and complexities of assuming a role that, at first sight, seemed only honorable.

Paulo Freitas do AmaralProfessor, Historian and Author