COLONIALITY AT LARGE Latin Ameria and the Postcolonial Debate ‘ Mabel Mere, EnrgueDus ond Caras jr(ar 2019 Anew ie antsy ticles tecee obenasan snag al epprnty and anerre Be we 82) COLONIALISM AND ITS REPLICANTS Mabel Mera, Eigu Dsl ond Cals ue he invitation made ina familie sherri by the advertising mathine st the begining of Ridley Soot’ film suggests, among other chins, that atleast in some fotms of political imagination it would be im possible today to depict a fue in which some notion ‘of colonialism and enslavement isnot present. The uote also suggests thatthe world itself might be be- oui to sal place eo si within ie adie tional parameters, the ambition of colonial domina- tion; it expresses vision of another New World, for which ye another colonial beginningisimagined Post colonialism, tansolonialis, or clnisity at lng, 6 nally onthe loote, unconfined, universal” ‘The purpose ofthis book sto explore and to inter- rogate, rom the clara perspective ofthe Latin Amex jean diene, curren theories dealing with both the historical phenomenon of colonialism andthe plural: iy of course ithae generated fom the beginning ofcolonial times. I cooeinatng collective reflection on these topic, our trial and theoteticel projet has Been twofold we have Been particuaely teense co te stateges ulized By imperial powers in American tert vauien sine the inition ofthe “Eispanic” era, This interpretive level im plies not ony aerial analysis of historical soures, humanist archives, vind cassia tadons, but alg satel risque ofthe politcal and pilo- ‘phil paradigms tat undedie the concept and the implementation of Teper eopanion Inthe parca ste of latin Amica, a discussion of tpi ort colonialsmoe that of ln, «tem that encompasses jhe crnshisoric expansion of colonial domination and the perpetuation tt effects in contemporary times—is necessarily ineroined with the Cthigue of Oridenaism and moderiy, crique that requires profound pur detached understanding of imperial ationaliy* Concurenty, our goal has also been to sepster, analyze, and interpret the politial, soca, and ultra practices that ceva the resistance against imptial powers exer ‘ised yndvivals and communities in avai of conte throughout the Tengee lar of atin Amescs's colonial and neocolonil history tnaalzing praviees and discourses ofesistance, topics such as violence, ident, inemess, memory, heterogeiy, and language have been parla ovrent These topics, reformulated during the last decades Fom the theo etal perspective of poststructuais theories, focus on the etal medlax ‘Sons tat connec bistorieal event, polcl philosophies, and insiutiona Sprotocls with the much more elusive Gomains of soil subjectviy and symbolic representation. "The cridgue of Occidentalism—that is, ofthe philosopics, pola, and calual paradigms that emerge fom and are imbedded in the histris! Sienomenon of Europea clonzation—is essential w the understanding bithe aggressive strategies used in imposing materia and symbolic domina- Son on sas tstories in the name of univsal maser, a5 well a of the ‘pporidon this domination generated ver the centres in "New Work” “Modernity and violence have fntertsined throughout the whole course of atin American history. The Latin Amerlean modern subjetis the product of « waumatic origin. From the beginning of the conquest, the encounter of indigenous peoples with the European ater was defined by violence Ter~ titoral devastation, slavery, genocide, plundering, and exploitation name jure some ofthe most immediate and notorious consequences of colonial ‘pansion. Socal and clase relations were shaped by what Sergio Bags aled the “omaipresene violence” ofthe colonial realy (x95 29) Gen these foundational conditions, the elaboration ofoss (of entite populations, cultures, teitories, and natural eeoutes) and, later on, the utopian mths that accompanied the ideology of modernity (the construction ofa teleology DF history which would inlude the conquest of social order, technological ptogress, and industrial growth, a well asthe promised mission of Latin [America athe belated guest in the feast of Western cvilalon) consisted the underlying forces that guided the constuction of cultural identies in ‘uansatlancic societies, As Fanta Fanon indicated, the trauma of oniaism permeates al levels of social sbjectvy. Taking into account some ofthese issues, his editrial projet has assumed bot the complex of atin Amer- ican history nd ite social and eulutal heterogeneity asa vantage point rom which anew perception ofealy and ae processes of colonial expansion and lalization could be elsborzted. ‘Many of he pieces included inthis volume make reference oa series of| essays which inated, in 1991 2 reflection in US. academe on the peri= rence of postcolonial theory fr th study of Latin American history and oltre. These essays were intended 28 response to Pati Seeds review say tiled "Colonial and Postcolonial Discourse,” which appeared in the Latin Amercan Rear Review in 19g. Two features were identified by Seed as the common denominator inthe tudes she reviewed: st, the relations of uthotiy in colonial and postcolonial stats; second, te connections be ‘een this new intedscplinary scholarship and contemporary tends such ‘as posttructuralism, new historicism,subalern studies, and the ike. Seed recognized tata distinct field of sady was being configured around the process of colonial eepresentation and that the ctque ofthe supposed transparency of language was athe core of eed nquiis* Ins response to Seeds atl, particularly in reference tothe discursive ‘edge of colonial erciem, Walter Mignolo emphasized a topic that soon became commonplace inthe field of eral dors dhe lous of eruniain as the disciplinary, geocultua, and idealogeal space from whith discourses of power and resistance are elaborated. In order to overcome the hegemony of the eiphabroriel notion of tot and douse Mignolo proposed the term aural emai 98 the overarching concept tha, in addon to materials of ihe leered tradition, could include eultual artifacts such as quipus, maps, myths, ealendas, oral naraves, and ditcoures produced in indigenous languages, thus allowing for a wider exploraon of dominated cucues ‘tignol 992b, 1993). Mignolo's ides of descentering" and “multiplying” the centers of power and production of knowledge ha ls been athe core ‘ofthe ertigue of colonial in reent decades. tn this ditetion, perhapsthe most fut steategy has been the recovery of both Latin American ‘cadion that starts inthe colonial period and continues in the following vomries,and the production of re-Hispanicand contemporary indigenous «Shes thar intecsect and challenge Creole clare from the margins and sarnssees of national cultures, The studies gathered in this book make fequen references to what coud be called the Latin American archive This pial and conve repertoire, which includes a wide ange of epresent Te gene, cultural orientations, an ideological positions, as been mosty lgvoted a eental debater, despite the fact that in many cases thst epe> vate’ prodvcton bas atcipated theories and real posiions tha intel Teena wodkng mxnly in American and European instivtons popuaszed many years atx. “This inial debate also included oter topes. Hecndn Vidal saw the emer ene ofthe postcaonial eld in the context ofa double crisis whichacord ing to him ivoves both the academic and professional satus of Irerature ta leary ftism, andthe polite vacuum that followed the collapse of als, By discussing the formation and funedon ofthe Latin America Therary canon sinee the nineteenth century, Vidal offered a panoramic vew tthe changes eegistered inthe el ofliteray crim, divided atthe ime, stoording to Vidal, becwcen 3 echnocrase and a colkualy oriented 2P- rach. The emergence of postcolonial studies a. distinctive fle, and one Wiha particular orientation toward discursive analysis, was seen by Vial as eff to find a common ground that could allow forthe articulation of tt sides fthe save. But is main contention was forthe ned to restores ola mension inthe ody of symbole sepresenation and soil sb- Frey, a aim that echoed what as been a constant issue in Latin Amer ‘an coke eriesm’ nhs for Rolena Adorno's contribution to he debate, it focused, sto al con the narratives that depicted interactions beoween dominating and domi- sed ealtare through antagonistic and oversimplified categories (villains! eroes,aggressorsvitims ec). Secondly, Adorno retuned t0 the com cpr ofcoloildscoure," following in par the arguments developed by 1 Jonge Kor de Alva, who challenged the sppisation ofthe term canis to the eal period of Spanish domination in America. These ails, labo tated fiom very diverse anavical perspectives, contained mos ofthe pis ‘pu would become part of the cheoretia agenda in this eld of study. he an ample and representative collecon of theoreia! and ideooglal approaches, is volume consites an atempt to consbute, in the fst gine, tothe Latin American Be prea tthe reas of scholarship in whieh the socal sclences inverse with homanisie studies and cultural, crtgue. Problems relate to the scenarios of neoliberalism, globalization, ‘migration, social movements, cultural hybrids, and the lke cannot be ap peopateyanaled without an understanding of Latin Americas colonil- iy. At the same tims, given thee wansdisciplinary nature and the offen comparative perspectives at workin the analysis of the peripheral Latin American region, he studies gathered in ths volume could also be esd 252 critical and challenging contsbution to the vigorous postcolonial debate ‘hat has been developing in the United States since the roost should be state, however, that his collection of studies epresents neither an attempt to force an entrance for Latin Americs in central debates, nor a deliberate ‘foe. anayae the sstematie exclusion ofthe region ftom the vast eper- toi of historical experiences and philosophical and poltiat discourses fen examined in connection with the topic of colonialism” Nevertheless, in both this intellectual seope and dee ecal perspectives, these studies draw attention to some ofthe philosophieal and ideclogia blind spots of postcolonial theories, which have been elaborated mainly in American aca- deme in reference o decolonization processes that took place, For the most par afer World Wars and ‘While scholaly opinion garding postcolonial theory's contributions to the specific feld of Latin American studies varies, or many intellectuals in that field the anaes of Latin America’s postolxalty seems far moceprob- lematc than analysis ofthe scenarios of decolonization that ave resulted fiom contemporary experience of imperial expansion. Many rites would argue tat, at different levels, de tothe specfcty of Latin American colo- nial history, no matter what interpretation may uimatey be adopted For the polemic prefix attached othe term, the application of postcolonial theories to the study of this region would require a great deal ofidologial and ‘theoretical refinement, Perhaps the Seld of Latin American studies ha been affected, not a6 much by the influence of postcolonial theris—some of which have been crucial for the understanding of historia proceses and the deconstruction of colonial rhetore—bur by the cia of ional end ‘olen in thele diverse temporal and spatial manifestations. Ths eritigue has no only challenged the limits and agendas of traditional disciplines but has also destabilized reductive ideological and cultural dualisms, mobilizing instead an ample arta of new topics and approaches distinctively connected to the experience of colonialism. The work around the notions of cultural semiosis and collective subjectivity; the intersections beoreen metropolitan ‘ower and colonial discourse che studies on language, introns, anduke texeualies; the analysis of orl, cartography, iconography: the version and exiigue ofthe literary canon the eitigue ofthe concepts of ation, iden, ideology, and hegemony—all have been instrumental forthe vinderstanding of political and cular] stucures elated to Latin America's Colonial, Ath same time, scrutiny ofthe methodology of anthropology. ‘Of historogeaphy, and, more generally, of the social scenes, along with alrer of poplar resistance ints many forms and oitques of the role Jnullcrals layin appropriating and resigning hegemonic models of thought and in exploring akernativ forms of knowledge and beiefhar put into question dhe adequacy of tadonal paadigms for studying a world thatis undergoing rapid political and soca transformations. Buteven mare important in spite ofits sometimes obvious discursive procivi tis in of {questioning has prompted a productive enscripion of political nase in the examination of eutore and soci, an approach that had been difused, to some eet, by cultural studies and bythe postmodern debate, which favored a more figmented and vlaile perspective of politcal and epste- ological issues. "Within this famework of problems and possibile, the reepgniion of the partials that constitute Latin America's history from the beginning of oloial tines should not be read a 2 claim of eepinaion (a position eplored inthis volume by Pete Hulme, Aman Chanady, and other) but father ian attempt to elaborate on what Walter Mignolo and othe scholars ave called clonidine, understanding by that che diferent tine [puce where paricular region becomes connected to the worldsstem of colonial domination. * “To bein with, it shouldbe taken into consideration that Latin American colonility originates inthe transoceanic adventures from which European modernity ise was born, following the arcval of Columbus tothe Carb bean istands. The conquest of overseas territories by peninsular powers— thats, the Foundation ofthe oldest colonial system in the Westis nat he expression ofthe logistic ofan imperialist earch for transnational mackets implemented fiom the centers of advanced capitaism—as it woul be the fuse with English and French terstoral ppropritions during te nine teenth and twentieth eencuries—butinsezd, an unforeseeable outcome of “hventurous commercial explorations, as wells function of politics abso Tutsm and religious expansionism. The prolonged crusades against Islam provided the model ofthe Holy War that would be implemented, with many avons, in the New Word, creating a ade off in which Indians would ‘exupy the place of Moors within the Christan project of religious dis- semincton. n spt ofthe prolonged effec of classical and medievalieas in the medern era, with the “discovery” of America during the frst decades of ‘the slneenth century many epistemological and geopoliteal paradigms of the Revalasance fiom which the enterprise of eriorial conquest and eolo~ riaten had originally emerged came to an end. A new word, one that encompassed both mettopoltan and colonial estories, appeared onthe horizn of European imaginares. The “peoples without history" who 2 consing 10 G. WF Hege, Would conse ce new fates uf Euyean Cirliztion weteconcepeusized as the tabula raszon which the principles ‘and accomplishments of Wester rationality (etigious belief, sien a vance and humanistic pridigms) could and should be inscribed. The uropsan expansion over transoceani tertiores and the domination of subjugated cultures not nly resulted from the willingness ro pursue eco ‘nomic profit nd prove military superior, but ls constited the historic ‘uttome of pole and religious transcendenalism, With the colonization of Artis, Europe became, atleast within the imits of Occidental con- sciousness, the center ofthe universe. From then on, the Sprit of Chiza- ‘ion would nor only mobilize the Angel of Histon, but aso incarnate inthe ‘Specte of Capitalism. ‘Another defining characteristic of Spanish ealonialism not presen in more contemporary practices of Europesn expansion was the particulars trbuton of power implemented smoag metropolitan and vernacular eles in America, For some scholars, the division of colonial societies into two parallel “republics” (he Repiliea de espafiles and the Replica de in- ios) insite a unique social and poliscal organiation which, by incor poratng Creoles (those born in America from Spanish descend) int the dominating Spanish system (the Replica de espailes) co-opted at east, to a certain degree, a very imponant sector of vceepal society. although ‘creole occupied 2 position of relative subalterity with respec to pein sularauthortes, thee atve participation in the Spanish administrative and cclsasic apparatus during the period of “iceregalstablization,” aswell asthe ongoing contrel over indigenous 2nd Afican American populations aerthe so-called emancipation, makeiedffiult to apply the terms lois! and independence to the New Word without 2 careful consideration ofthe power structure and socal organization ofthe colonies. Mutpiciy and heteogencty (of projects, of soci stata among dominant and dominated subjets, of pole articulations within the vast space of clonal societies, ‘of languages and cultural tradition), a well x perpetustion of soil and polital struc after the trian of Spanish rule, characterize clo-rial domination in America. As fr Brazil its colonial history has obvious vrais to tat ofthe Spanish possessions. Nevertheless tis also ue ‘hart region asa unigue and ambivalentcondion asthe ony colony that trains te offal site ofits cortespondent metropolitan monarchy, when se go8 the Royal fail ransferred its residence to America in order to ee Napoleon's threat. Braz's colonial and postcolonial condition, 2 wel 28 Poruga'ather peripheral position nthe wood-pstem with respect the utah Empire creates, as Boaventura de Souza Santos has aso suggested, nen exces of att” that divides Brazillans in wo groups: “those that ae hushed bythe excess of past and those that are crashed by the excess of frre 203,93) sen ely ofan Aes cll soy soe hat en fmpia expansion bm inte Western wer te serch ge ad mre comer hn he ne ena cos ae ona se Sanh 08 Prguse colin aa enh and teeth erie lng sis fh eal vee wich=ih espa ofa et Seat en of pe sn scored ae and egg where ci dona cul be npn rr eye sone tat woud allow the ination ad ose le a cana bcd by metoplian std Wi se pai canis the eb fe eh cen rh Engines is usa assed by pola ae eam bere concep nd oie ea, an the eed athe epost of mati adobe commas rr ara fom fen oh enone ad cae of he OH oa a rue nla he eogepiconcein oe ot aah ne somone iho oper. am wn 08 ae wen hs Ores wae coaegey ajc is sa we) coma, he Se th conceal 2 ae cil expences inthe New Wot sog9 90 a vy bio, telgy aie, combate ee eee ererghenar ad madre ola aly 9958 THe Serhan wre gtd 3 emer conn wile eer vin pmsrm wer popne ax he fing fee of al Quan has own nis ss, the pie a va ng smegng fom oon “irene 1 = aa ta sepaned heros of wo easierion Swe ane af man tease face bce th one” ed to suppor, justi and pesperute the practice of imperial domination. As (Quiano noted, ace emerges 2 a key category to define and justify colonial srangements snd to “legitimize” the system of forced labor in te New World. The concept of onaiy, a term coined bp Quiano, facitares an understanding of how rice and labor were aricalated in the colonial period a subject often neglected in postcolonial studes~—and of perpeuation in madera ies. ‘Air the wars of independence, and in aditon tothe dominating prac ‘ices inherited fom the colonizers and perperated by Creole oligachies, the subaltemizaton and marginalisation of vat social sectors within the famework of national scentios constituted 2 constant reminder of the limits of hegemonic episteme a8 well as of the perversions that accom panied, indifferent stages, the “lining,” “emancipato nd “develop: ing” missions in Latin Ameria, Following the foundation of nation-states, vith the seculariaation oF ace, the liberalization of commercial wade, and the adoption of Enlightened thought, the “colonial of power” described by Quin manifested itself in muliple ways: soca ierarcies economic, racial, and sexual inequality; economic and cultural dependency. ‘As modernization pocests intensified and new forms of colonialism ‘were implanted in Latin Ameria, imeal isidences and resistances in creased, thus jeopardizing the advancement of rational projects. fen, na tional bourgeoisies were invlved in “neocolonial pats” with international powers (mostly England, Fence, and dhe United States), which strength ened economic and political dependency and depened inequality in Latin In addition to internal problems derived fiom the continuation of eolo- ial structures, Latin America also endured, since the beginning ofits inde pendenlfe, the effects ofboth economic interventions snd political aggres- sions. With the Spanish-American War of 188 and more cleal afer World Wart, the iterations! hegemony of the United Stats teformolated Latin ‘America’s neocolonial condition, thus providing new evidence ofthe mult ple Face adopted by colonial expansion, its always renewed dominating ‘trees, and ie devastating repercurions.” 1 the nineteenth century had been the sesing for Great Brtin’s ne ‘lena contol over Latin Amecca'seconomy—aswellas ofFrance’sultural influence on newly emancipated soceties—the twenteth century saw the consolidation of US. international preeminence, which materialized nm ‘merous military and politcal interventions. The ineeasing control and om «quest of international markets and the development of an imperial foreignpoli consolidated US. power at global level, leading this country's x Pst nto the Pacific and the Caribbean, When in x88 Spin foto the ‘nite States the teritoie that maine fom the old empire—te Philp pine Islands, Cob, and Puerto ico—US, supremacy wat inaugurated. In atin Ameria, il within the spi of dhe Monroe Doctrine of 83 and as irect application of the "Dollar Diplomacy" approach to foreign pliy, the United Stats intervened—someimesrepeatedly~in Cuba, Mexico, Guate mala, Honduas, Nearage, Panama, Colombia, Hat, andthe Dominican Republi in some cases occupying national teriories for many years ater, the United States engaged in somerimes-Ssgused politcal invobements in the imemal affais of aumerous other coutces (Pinocher's coup deat in Chile, Plan Colombia, ete), a8 well asin det military operations in EL Salvador and Grenada, to name ust some ofthe most conspicuous US. interenions ia recent histor: “The uninttruped practice of colonialism has marked Latin American story from ts beginning, Even today, tte begining ofthe ewen9y-frst century, it woul be dificult analyze atin Americas poston, bot atthe atonal and atthe international levels, without an understanding of its Colonial and neocoonil histor. But this history should not be writen only ha mere enumeration of grievancer~a "memosial de agravios'—that ren Gets testimony ofthe enduring eects of oloial domination an its impor tance asa decermining factor in Latin American historical development. This heterogencous history must be writen, also, as an acount chat registers the tnulipl voices, actions, and dreams chat have contributed to shaping the lletive expression of politcal ebellon against extemal aggressions, is- ‘cimiation, marginaliy, and soca} inequalin, 26 well asthe search for foil tansformation and cultral integtation. Continuous mobilizations och at defensive wars, uprisings, subversons, its, insurgencies, popular Gemonszations, and revolutions intended to repel, undermine, or over throw the dominating powers since the “discover” in addition to the more {nstuonalized resistance channeled through the wotk of politcal pars, ‘unions, student organizations, and the like—eonstitte persistent estimo ris of an ongoing liberating struggle that waveses the limits of historical and geocleral demarcation. Tn ater words, from Canudos to the Mescan Revolution to the guerilla ‘wars ofthe 1960198os, Latin American history is also the history of ts any rf and its multiple Forms of systemic and nonsystemic resis- tance against colonialism and the rule of capital. Likewise, the social move- tents dat appeared in the Latin American scenario during the las decades ‘ofthe swenteth century (the Madres dela Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, the ‘Movimento dos Trabalhadotes Rurais Sem Tera in Brall, the Zaptist2 movement in Maco, indigenous mobilizations inthe Andean and Cereal American regiors, © name just some ofthe most notorious expressions ‘of popular struggles) are evidence ofthe people” determination to resist, ‘economic ineguli, politcal repression, and social injustice, which are Functions ofthe sumiving apparatas of neocoonial domination—wht che Peruvian thinker José Carlos Mariteg called “colonialism supést” (surviving colonists) —in contemporary times But such resiient practices, a5 well asthe numerous manifestations of collective sentinente of discontent and rebellion often expressed through the symbolie pratices of everday hfe and popular cau, are only posible because they areroted in solid cultural and epistemological Foundaons. a fact, the historyof Latin America’s resistance to colonialism is consited bythe interweaving of muliple marcas that include testimonies of domi- ated cultures which have survived the devastating impact of homogeniza ‘don epression, and censorship, managing to maintain ther alternative and challenging quaity through the diferent stages of Latin American history For this reason, ny study of social and poli resstancein the contents we focus on inthisbook necessarily implies an anabss of marginalized imag. Inari and akemasve epistemologies, surving and emerging subjet- ties, and modes of representation which exist in colonia! and neccolonial societies under~and inspite of specific conditions of production, recep: tion, and dissemination of knowledge. 1 could be si, that by exposing the perpetuation and metamorphic straelesutlize over che centuries by colonial and necolonal domin. Son Latin Ameiean history challenges the concept of pstcloniality from Within, This is parculany true when the prefix is used to connote the ‘cancellation or rercoming of polical cultural, and ideological conditions Jmposed by foreign powers in socedes that exited under colonial rule. Although a pesodzation of Latin American colonia snot only posible but necessary in etudying regional developments, the ides of a stage in ‘which colonial cominaton had been economically, poicaly, and culturally erased andjor tanscended (as suggested, in some interpretations, by the prefix yo) seens mote the product ofa depolicized evaluation of conte orayhistory—o even an expression ofhope and desie—tha the esl of 4 thorough examination of Latin America’s pest and present. This bool offersa thorough examination of the contributions and he downsides ofthe ‘concept of postcolonial inthe region, and he contributors fe, on manycecasons, about the metits and applies ofthe team for our feld of Shady Is precisely this pluaiy of critical approaches and ideological positions that makes this bok a hllenging conetbuon tothe debate. any eave its obvious that for Latin America both globalization and eolibealisn stand as new inestnations oF neocolniaim, and capitalise vntnues to be the szuctring pincple whic, by ruling all aspects of anal and international rlatons, not only allows for but requires the ferpenatin of clonal. The consoldation of new wo ord in which ‘he concentration of power and the redefinition and strengthening of hee tnony staking place ata formidable pace als cal forathorough examina (lon peripheral societies where most ofthe struggles for eonomis polti= ce and eiserologcal liberation ace being fought, wih variable results Te amewoik of theoretical problems and politcal reais that is within this this book has been structed ‘be the scenatios of colnilty cannot be choroughly analyzed without = seudy ofthe oe inelecrals have played, over the centres, in conjunction shih poles and religious instttons in the definion of soca and polit Tal agendas, a part ofthe educational spparatus, nthe elds ofa, com | munitions, and he ike al processes related tothe production, approp fe. ‘and/or dissemination of knowledge in peripheral societies are crucial foe the advancement of emancipatory projects in Latin Ameria the inter ‘ining of iellecval wock and clonality hasbeen «defining chareteris- tlesinee the beginning of colonial times, from the constriction ofa Creole rts and historical atchive in vieregal societies, to the writings ad (ratios associated with the proces ofindependence and the foundation of ona sates, tothe modernization and imposiion of neokberalism in the lbalera ‘Creole levaos as hermeneutss and cultural translators, indigenous thinkers a the memory and vice of dominated cultures, national intel thal se he Messabs of Enlightened raionliy, aeademis, artists, writers, Technocras, “organic” and public intellectuals as caltural advisors, dis ‘Connors, andor falicators of national and transnational exchanges of Symbolic commodies—none of thes categories caprre pers the socal nd idcologial paradoxes and ambiguities of inelletal agency in colonial and neoclonialsenaros, and he negations imbedded in the produsion sad manipulation of epistemic and cultural paradigms. It coud be sd that seal level, fom colonial times tothe preset intellects aetion bas teen developed in snatempt to confit the taumate effects of colonia thas From diverse ideologies position, the maraties that elaborate onthe concepts oF histor, emancipation, collective subjeciiy, politcal and cul tural agency, and the like ar all permeated in one way er another by the remainders of colonial domination, whether the geocultual st of enuncia- tions located inside or ouside Latin America, Beginning withthe eatly discourse of Creole lezados who reacted aguinst Spanish awthoriy, many ertiques of colonialism have been elaborated by Latin American intellects In modern times, during the periods of inde- pendence and modernization, eriques of colonialism proliferated, emerg- ing fom diferent political and ideological perspectives, Very few, howeves, have been acknowledged in postcolonial studies and debates. The general resistance to postcolonial theary in Latin Ameria is due, in pare, to the perception thatthe concept of neoolonalim should replace that of post Colonialism, which seems to imply—at last in some interpretations ofthe prefix otha colonial imes have pased, The los of eunciation has also been challengeé. Postcolonial theory hasbeen elaborated from “inside the belly ofthe monster." a José Mart sid in reference to his own sugges ‘gunst imperialism. At the same ime, erica discourses elaborate from peipheral societies have often been ignored, considered in themselves ob- jects of study but never been valued 25 theoretical contributions worthy of debote, Nevertheless, the long ad rch Lain American debate on color nialsm includes schools of thought which, incorporating Marxist analysis of imperialism and combining it with other sociological and polite) ap- proaches (such a thote represented by dependency theory and liberation theology, provide incisive deconstrutions of colonialism rom the Latin American Marse tradition, the critique of imperialism has included, among other things, along reflection on colonial and neo colonial exploitation, José Carlos Maridteguis analysis of race, cas, land ownership, and nacional culture in Feru consttes a good example of an original eeaboration of materialist thoughe applied to the specific Latin ‘America reality. Topics rlsted to colonization, Indian exploitation, slavery, snd the emergence of nation-states end peripheral pitas, 25 wells the long history of popula insurgeacies and diferent forms of culteal re ance, have been thoroughly studied, José Calas Marieegu, Julio An- ‘onio Mela, Juan Marinella, Luis Carlos Prestes,C. LR James, Sergio Bags, Nelson Werneck Sodré, Emesto Ganaéler Casanova, and Agutia Cueva sxe just some of te most representative intellectuals concerned with probe lems related to Latin America's neocolonial history and dependent develop- ‘ment. Latin America's colonial was understood—as eal asthe 1930s and 29405—not asa derivation of feudalism bu asthe esl of early capitalism'scipansion and of the corelative emergence of peripheral modernity in the teyion-.L-R James, forinstanc, analyzes the medi of coli expo tation of aborin ae pltatons in Adan eto, apphng bis arg Trent the stad ofthe Haan resolution (2938) The Argentine Sergio agi focsed onthe opti characteris and historia deerinaons ff Latin Ameria’ colonial economy and rac rlaons His napsis com tered wadioal sumptions ofa Latin American late feds with che theory about the eon’ introduction iat a system of peripheral but quite ‘modern cai! etal (1949. “Anaher seminal theorzation on Latin America's peripheral capitalism nits oon elon with Regemonie centers was undertaken by pen dency thon, which emerged inthe Int 190s and was developed trove ERTS trl and sain conic at Ral Pei Ihnde GundeeFank, Fetando Hentgue Cardoso, Osvaldo Sunke, Peo tar, and Theotono Dos Santos." From diferent but convergent pespee thes, dependency theory was mainly concerned with the continuity of clo > sal servers sl inbeded in modern capitalism and with the gue of Gevelopmentlom, From the peapetiv ofthis theory, the poets of = ‘lopment in and fr Latin America were interpreted asa “neccolonial pact” between international capital and national elites that perpetuated relations of imernational dependency and social inequaiy inthe region. Deel rent and underdevelopment, powerful inernatioal centers and struggling peripheries, internal and international division of labor, exploitation of aa tonal wealth and widespeead internal povery copious export of rw mate- tials and ominous bunger—ill were aspects of the “colonial capitalism” “lucady analyzed by Sergio Bag. Deesdenisas examined this asymmerieal Configuration as 2 contemporary Form of the colonial sytem applied in ‘America and Aca by European empires. To certain extent, dependency ‘heory constituted a clear acknowledgment of atin Ameria’ “colnialityt large" and a serious attempt to underake a materials analysis of the re- sn's economic lations both st amationl and an ntenational level.” ‘ivergen anda the same time related to dependency theory. Theologtaf Liberation povided an alternative refeton on problems related to capitalist “Gppresson in the so-called Third World." Inthe aftermath ofthe Cuban Revolution and during the cis of populism in the 19608, progressive e- Tigious thinkers such as Camilo Torres, Gustav Gute, and Juan Luis ‘Segundo, in ect contact with grassroots groups, articulated a theological reading of socal ety and a programmatic answer to social problems in {atin America. Liberation theology no only theorize alienation, capitalism, and colonials, butaleo inspired» large and infuental socal mobilization ‘urcred by a solid seligious end politcal agenda which developed intricate relations with popula insurgency and liberation movements. Asan episte- ‘mologial and theoretical eigueof colonialism, liberation theology an seended uaditional lexis notions of alienation, resignlfed religous nar aves as discourses of beatin and popular resistance and crested a new rhetoric and anew concept of social change which connected with popular beliefs and emancipatory political agendas. Finally liberation theology of red a new fmework to eethink the aiculation of religion and politics, culture and community. ‘One ofthe challenges ofthis volume i to incorporate into current post- colonial debates the Fundamental inputs made by Marist thought, depen dency theory, and liberation theology to the sty and understanding of Latin Ames’ colonial, ferthermore, to engage the eader into secous reassessment of these conaibuons visit new cic and theoretical approaches. In other words, this volume proposes the integration of “er- acl” academic tadtone into the reflecons and discourses that are ‘etinking colitis today fiom the scenario impacted by the wasfor: ‘mation of hegemony ata planeaylevel aking ico 2ecoune the challenges flat capitalism, mulcolvralin, a lobaliation. atthe same time, ts important to acknowledge the act that, nereting newgrounds for ans scipingy and transnational debates, it essential to contemplate the species of the actors involved in inellcal dialogue, and to ponder the czcumstances zounding the processes of discourse production in various and sometimes confctng lei of enunciation Prado, i in these foundational, hough peripheral, analyses that we an find some of {he economic and materiale approaches that we mis today in postolo- sia theo 1 the specie case ofthe debte on (postclonasn, Latin American intellectual, who ae justi apf the well-known risks of ultra penetea- on, on eset the adoption of Fst Word auras in the analysis of peripheral sci. Thi st inthe cae of *Creae” hikers nd schol fs a5 well as among indigenods ileal who inhabit the domsine of culares dominated by means of intemal clailsm and who think and ‘stein nontegemonis langusges and from nonhegemonie place. Some tines, a il dialogue can sil be established, particularly due tothe Fact chat cultural fone ar today more permeable than ever and Latin Ame ‘ca not only exis in is orginal tesitores but is also disseminated in adoptive counties, fac that tends to faclitate the exchange of eas andcollaborative work. Bat this dialogue can be not ony challenging but also ‘ifieat to establish Lan American seholaes often seek refuge in different forms of caltral fundamentalism, thus preluding the possibly of aking advantage of cheotetia, tits, and poltal postions that cou illumi rat repinal developments. Op oter occasions, “central” intellectuals ap proach Latin American cll history wit variable degres of theoretical Tropance, peeralism, of “colonial gui." Time and agin loa hisoies and aleratve eistemologes are weated a if the were experimental com rocs which have come to existence in order to confiem the pace of the ‘ther nthe realm of Universal History and to lgitimiz its inquisitive ze. Likewise, neocolonial societies ara whol, or specific sectors in parcuan, are the obec of new forms of social classifications that homogenize his foveal, poe, nd cultural difeences and inequalities by subsuming them in igi and compartmentalized concepraa ystems whieh eves more howe tienature of he observer than about he quay ofthe objec of stu. Tn any cae, and regardless ofthe chosen definition of ineliectoa] agen, itis obvious that inspite ofthe enduring effects of colonial and neocolonial ‘Jominadion, Lain Ameria should not be concepralzed asthe residue of Golonilism bu tatheras2 space where colnilty has been perpetrated and perpenated as a funcion of epitaim, and where cull, soca, and Pottel tsnsformaion have been taking place for cenares, in seach ‘SFemancipation and sovteigsy—an arena where multiple and confctie Sirogeles ate being fought and where knowledge isnot just appropdated vind reeled but poace both in dominant and dominated languages an “Cultures. Consequent, the region as 2 whole can and shouldbe seen asa uch mote complex scenario han the one usualy approached through con- ‘apts such as postnatonl, posthistore,posthegemonic, post ideological, nd thelike, These fashionable notions, which in certain context could m0- bili theoredcalrefecions, capture very specific aspects ofa much broader pola, clurl and epistemological reali nd when taken as ttalizing ‘cel paradigms, provide limited and limiting knowledge of Latin Amer fea's cultural and poitca problems, Tis editorial project is precisely an tnempetobedgethedfeent ult, ideological, and insatonal spaces “phere Lain Americanism is being developed as 2 transravona intelectual endewor. ‘Many echoatlysategies, disciplinary protocols, and ideological posi sion ate combined inthis book, Hopefully, the reader willbe able to travel these avenues Forging his or her own path in approaching the fascinatingly ‘complex Latin Ameria history, andthe narratives ie has inspired. 16a Sturt Hall has stated, postcolonial theory entalsthe ask of “thinking ache limits," the study of cloilty implies, in sen, the challenge of thinking cars frontiers, disciplines, eretries, classes, ethics, episemes, tem porate) in otder to visualize the overarching stucure of power that bas ‘impacted all aspects oF socal and pollcal experencein Latin Ametia since the beginning ofthe colonial er, Without a doubs, he struggle for eman: cipation and equality is fought inthe region with aryng degrees of intensity and sucess on diferent roms, Includes the banesfor the recuperation of. lnestal spaces of intercultural communication sad forthe creation of no epistemologieal platforms from which new Forms of political imagina tion could emerge and proliferate. Divergent forces and impulses traverse the vst erstories of colonial: desire and rejectior, mourning and obi Jon, passion and melancholia, the harms of spolizion and the need for restitution. But none of them exet outside of the goltcal realm, be it in Latin Ameria itself or in the multiple, eansnasonal domains in which Latin ‘Americ is studied, imagined, or remembered. Ic is cur hope that this book wil be read 28 not only a contribuson to but also asa intervention in the seudy of Latin Ameria, where colonial and its epicans exist, at times sill—undeteted, 1 ade Rune cold azo be sa 0 represen the polite Lins of colonials From thos efword colonies something rere w challenge the colonial corde the insurgence ofthe exploded, the insuecion of reife aor, the violent defiance of races condemned t9 subsion I seems tht unlimited Colon might have iit feral 2 The concep of toll” xine by Antal Qc ha bee piel the understanding and crite of early and Ite stage: of colialism in Latin “Axa, wel a fe ong lasting socal and ula ees. 2 We ae swaze ofthe wide apletion ofthe term olson throughout te took a wel af of thease of poaleniin and wai by diferent sutor, Since each conbior makes # epee case for he imepreaion of the concept andthe term of preference, we hare reget thisterinlogel Plea and weleome the iferet cal and heoeecal menses they open 0 thereat 4 The term elon subj is Being used herein ts ample semantic spect, refering to bth hepemenic and oppresedsujecies within he contest of aon American colonia 5 Sen's ray, whl inte a sexe ofespmtes avd the ples and dis ‘courses of oon, acted on Sve books on Lath Ameria a he Pip ines published beowecn ig and 9p: anil acm Eragon te Naecaitnn by Peter Hale (986), Discuss nants dea conus Magia y mera by Bee Pastor (gR), Unfahel Cvs: Mayas an Forges ace Toe Ws bya Solita (98), onmating Calon, Tatn end Chinas Coen in Talo Sty der Ely Spoish Rae by Vicente Rael (tel, and Denon ed Retin Poplar Mementn e Pipin, 4o—ap29 by Real tle 3979. “Th a debt i exensively cone by Fernando Conn his esi evole Ines exough in his dkcstion ofthe inl debate on poston, Bil Asherot (yp edaces Via’ aegumens roa "ubborly etnoceni” tnd characetsual ferfl geron of ousie creel movements. He sth ‘out opinion, he point made bythe Chilean ee regarding the eed 1 0 yond the tts of textual deconetcon in order to reich "be polit ‘Senin in ltl ana.” Asher fcases, othr, on Vides concer {son the echnoerd no erry enim, a preoccopton shared in he Tewofeed othe sume debate by Reha Adorno Keovde An's argent apears hs pleme and ofen quoted ace "Colo ‘nla apd Powolonil a (Lan) Amescan Mages,” which x common valed with the porcini debt ‘oss haf ht tered to the salidyAnglo-uroceni mits ofthe pos ‘Mlona As eased and practised the glo rescan academy pos Tonia cor has Been gel obvious non-western aruations of sland ‘Sey an has ho tended nerelte te non-western ules ites 10 foreptund snd defend in soy Eocene fame of conciousness. Ps ‘Sten theory thas opentes wit the poradosiealtesion of relying 00 che feel, Eoropean oebulry of academic origins © wansae nose on Buropean expenence, Despite brillant auempts to eluate (or petaps ‘Peseue swap chi dilemma, the queron ofthe non-western Othe’ ape) Teonns avapended and unecled while the matril condions tha eerste Tots of dbus vitrs (uch bidity’ and deny plies atire ‘aoc heoreden epi, The geen Soa ie Wil the uber be a lowed speak” (200 ‘Wate nigolo defies lial diene “The enon ference the space ‘nhs colonia of power eect ts aso the space where he reson of ‘Routers knowledge i aking pice and where Border hiking is emering “he coloiliference the epace whee laa tres inventing and ile Treving bal designs meet orl has, he pac in which glob dsigns ave be adapted, adopted, ened negated, or ignored. The colonia it ference, Ally, te phyla wel at imaginary Testion where the clo Tiny of power fs t work nthe conflonation of two kinds of al stories [Teplied in feet epave animes arss the plane” (0008, a). We ae thet onal jee with 2 slighty mode, more poncal meaning, tie emphasize the pity of Ltn Ameria colon ison that filer historia, poles cian ell modes of aclason hin {he worst of oenal dominion oughout the ena, ‘Qj defies sociaiy a lb hegemonic model ofpowerin pce since the Conquest tht arcs race and labor, hs combining the epsemolog- {agnor colonial dominance ap he aewcies usual reasons 20d Collation whish merged with te Congest and conaued in he following epeoF ate Amei's istry. Fanon make reference ro colonia a8 one ofthe inelucable “pias of ioral eonslousness" 199, 148-205). Canty and impel amc, expect, te condition recaing fom colo- nal ceminaton snd he modem phenomenon of xii expasion. Calo ‘nian scosiered a form of peril domination. The term impeao i sual ested to the spe of enpie bung dat aecompaies the emer- {ence ofthe modern nadon sae inthe West, and usual refers a Earopean Teta exanson during the latent an peat cen. AOU thee evidence ofthe ae of he erm epee a5 che sbeent en, ‘pecan Became poplar in the mid-nineteenth centr, parce afer 158, he pvt of the Po Britannic ‘egotting the concept postcolonial sone that makes primary efetence toche" pola and dsinte straepes ofcalonzed aces” (sheaf 20 2) sn enough, nn step ofespond eo he “perce ext (ata ‘Neral igi pod by ove ces movements” an ‘rage the vlc of he er etalon Bl Aso popose some inter ste aleates, partly the one that eines “psalms (s)he ‘acourse ofthe colonized" 200,24). This possibly, proposed 242 wel: intentioned bot aber condescending way of desing with he ea” of atin meta intel, oeloks the cee infvence athe dsauses of power have in consioing the dsoures of restance—i , the impact, ff dominating nares, hegemonic eptemsiogies, plal ~ratonaes,” {nd te Uke, which inceitably trie with he elaborason of emancipatory {genas n coon or aeoelonal domains (hii the basen we fo he ‘erm pls wool provides tencatd acount ofthe clu pois ndiceologi scenarios emerging fom collin my opinion 2m 2nay- ‘afpostslona duces shoul ina acount boh sides of the coin 28 ‘rela th fel egosatens inbedded in the proerr cla ppopris: tion ad intelectual prodction. “The pls of Creole eject and the musik ident developed by this rap inthe colonial period and een in the formation and consolation of m- ‘ona eae ve ben deg by may ens. Fora crgu ofthe Manchean lnteettlon of subjects confoned in eolonal encounter, see, inti ol fame Seed, Adorn (pariclnl het iscssons of what Seed als “ales of ‘esrance and accommodation”, nd Mazz Sango Coli bas ao eon tibved wo thes of ute poston snd coli e995). Forasacint historic presestaon and anal of dependency theo its po poss, and its debater, eee Thetoio dos Santos's La er ea dee lousy peti (2003) tn Artic today, and has ben since the seer cent, prof 35snternational stem dominated by the now-deveoped aon... Os) we scopes neheeuome of paar series of reatanhis wo eine ol systet (Bodeemer 171, 1571 seit canon inthe far the conceptof pstconaism displaced of Ae ud The em Ted Wd wae coed in 195 byte Frese econ wae hstorin and athopolgi led Sau, ant son came to be used ae gegen erence walter of axons at, de tothe inact of alana vr tad ot reached the standards of development tht characteried North se fone ant arope societies. The ters Thd Wor, deed from the ex ‘prson Tit aed ding the Fenc Revel inference play TRepalzed seco of soe), ined populaiy in reference to counties vied gether with the USSR. noe with Maro daring the Cold Wa, Since ee thod wor has been wed as a homogeiing and sometimes dogo csetinuatoe splcd to underdeveloped eatns in As, Asa aad Lato ‘rere gro ase known athe Gaba South eas oftheir conor ova and ell Siferences,