This article focuses on State reform as a consequence of the financial crisis of 2008, which persists to this day. Politicians identify State reform with austerity measures. Thus, the Welfare State will be substituted by a neo-liberal State. However, once the crisis has been surpassed, the State will tend to grow again. In reality, true reform implies a change of culture and behaviours, which is quite difficult in Southern European countries, of which Portugal is part of. These countries are deeply legalist, and in which, separation between politics and administration is not always linear.
Keywords: Globalization, New Public Management, State Reform, financial crisis
