The Latin American Ghosts

The social struggles for rights and the constitution of Modernity

Abstract

The present work aims to present, based on the work of sociologist Aníbal Quijano, the decolonial understanding of Modernity. It is possible to conclude that Latin America is not pre-moerna or non-modern, but on the contrary, Latin America constitutes Modernity. Therefore, firstly, the way in which A. Quijano understands power is presented - composed of three elements: domination, exploitation and conflict. Second, the tension between the legitimate claim to equality, freedom and citizenship and the inequality present in the world is analyzed. Then, the relevance of the contact with the Andean peoples for changing the notion of temporality and the modern formulation of the notion of temporality is presented, as well as for the construction of the modern project of social emancipation. Finally, the importance of rescuing Latin American experiences of social and political struggles, crystallized in rights, and against modern forms of domination and exploitation - against coloniality -, which have been present since the beginning of modernity. These social struggles are the expression of conflict, one of the elements that constitute power, in A. Quijano's work. The methodology used is the literature review.