Better Portuguese colonial policy in Africa

I know that in OTL, decolonization was a phenomenon with much momentum, and so pretty much inevitable. That said, Portugal, unlike many of the other colonial powers, was a full-blown dictatorship. If I understand correctly, Salazar attempted to make the African colonies the same status as metropolitan Portugal. Why didn't that work? Wouldn't that give them the same rights as the European provinces? In any case, could Portugal have came up with a better colonial policy that, while not preventing independence, would have allowed Angola and Mozambique to skip civil war and retain close ties to Portugal, a la Commonwealth of Nations? And I thought Portuguese racial policy was generally more lax compared to the other colonial nations.
 
In order for Salzar's policies to work in real life, they'd have to have practical as well as theoretical impact. Also, I personally would prepare the colonies for independence while building close future ties.
 
A more balanced status for the former African colonies requires Salazar being forced earlier to overcome his fear (like the Colonial War did) that the colonies might one day emulate Brazil and become independent.
Another option would be a surviving (and reformed) First Republic developing earlier the colonies - they were more prone to that in terms of beliefs.
 
In order for Salzar's policies to work in real life, they'd have to have practical as well as theoretical impact. Also, I personally would prepare the colonies for independence while building close future ties.
I totally agree with you, but the problem is that they are concern about the theoretical part and forget that they should make some serious actions..
 
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