A NUMERICAL LOOK AT RURAL PORTUGUESE POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND STRATEGIES

This article describes various local-level political strategies employ ed in rural Portugal since the 1974 revolution, and details some of th e complexities consequent to introducing representative government to populations with little experience in public politics. The article als o demonstrates how quantitative analysis, done while the researcher is still in the field, can produce distinct advantages for a qualitative study, by helping to establish rapport with field residents and revea ling new directions for qualitative research.