Da guarda nacional republicana no sistema de segurança português: contributos para uma teoria geral sobre uma força militar de segurança

This doctoral thesis entitled “The Guarda Nacional Republicana in the Portuguese Security System: Contributes for a general theory about a Military Security Force” primarily aims to analyze the Guarda Nacional Republicana in Portugal, since the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic of 1976 came into force until present day, in order to answer the main question “Why does the Guarda Nacional Republicana exist in Portugal?”. Consequently, the object of study is the Guarda Nacional Republicana, the safety issues and the framing variables are the european and national political dynamics, the security models and identity. To accomplish this thesis, it was necessary to determine the model of methodological analysis based on fundamental research, qualitative analysis, initial and subsequent questions, pertaining to general and specific goals, and the experimental design case study. This methodological design was further complemented by the adoption of a critical thought to the data extracted from the documentary analysis, bibliography, doctrine and legislation and in semi-structured interviews. These interviews, conducted to relevant entities on the subject matter under discussion, were carried out using a guide of five descriptive questions whose data was interpreted through the content analysis method. It is concluded that the GNR is a Military Security Force that combines, in itself, the capacity of being a Military Force and simultaneously a Security Force. Such capacities are reflected by the fact that the characteristics of a Military Force enhance the exercise of the mission as a Security Force in the defence, security, and protection and rescue dimensions. As a Military Security Force, the GNR moreover reveals itself a means at the ruler’s disposal to counterbalance the misuse of power triggered by other means, enabling to achieve balance and stability in the portuguese security system. Simultaneously, and considering the change in the threat spectrum, the GNR is a means of projection of portuguese sovereignty across borders enabling the empowerment of other people and the construction of other nations without recourse to war capacity. Thus, the GNR becomes useful and necessary because it enables the ruler to act globaly. Insensitivity as a Military Security Force results in misunderstandings often decharacterizing of their identity and action/intervention capacity.