After the Decolonial: Ethnicity, Gender and Social Justice in Latin America

The Decolonial examines the origins of Latin American decolonial thought, interprets precursors such as Fanon and Levinas, and offers a more grounded interpretation inspired by Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. It emphasizes the role of race in injustice and traces it to European colonialism, but fails to fully absorb the unique nature of Latin American race relations. The book concludes that a universalist concept of social justice is needed in Latin America, encompassing a comprehensive approach to race, gender, class, and human rights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

After delving into the origins of Latin American decolonial thought, the book explores the readings of precursors such as Fanon and Levinas, as well as its historical interpretations. In comprehensive chapters on the anthropology of ethnicity, law, religion, and modern culture, Lehmann establishes the foundations for a more nuanced interpretation, drawing inspiration from Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, as well as from a lifelong engagement with issues of development, religion, and race.

The decolonial approach centers race at the core of its understanding of injustice, intersecting with various other exclusions that divide Latin American societies. It traces these disparities back to European colonialism. However, the book acknowledges that it has not fully grasped the uniquely unsettling nature of Latin American race relations, which perpetuate prejudice and inequality, yet are marked by métissage, pervasive borrowing, and mimesis. Moreover, it has not fully integrated its own disruptive feminist branch and has shown limited interest in exploring the interwoven history of indigenous religion and hegemonic Catholicism, as well as the evangelical tsunami that has reshaped many assumptions about the region's culture.

In conclusion, the book argues that in Latin America, where inequality and violence are more severe than anywhere else, and where COVID-19 has exposed the deplorable state of institutions responsible for ensuring basic necessities, the time has come to establish a universalist concept of social justice. This concept should encompass a comprehensive approach to race, gender, class, and human rights, aiming to address the systemic inequalities and injustices that persist in the region.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 232 x 159 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509537525