Por que pensar a América Latina (e as Relações Internacionais) desde a América Latina?

Abstract

This paper intends to understand the theoretical debates that defend the construction of a Latin American thought, in the second half of the twentieth century. It is intended to extract from these debates, relevant arguments to think Latin America (and International Relations) from Latin America. It proposes as well a problematization on epistemic thinking and critical thinking. The paper presents the hypothesis that it is only possible to understand the condition of being Latin American in this world, starting from a philosophical exercise generated through territorialized problems and committed to overcoming colonial subordination. Therefore, it is necessary to think Latin America from Latin America because the marks of the colonial past still contain and condition Latin Americans to think from their colonizers, from the European models. Carrying out this study, from and about Latin American thought, is necessary so the construction of knowledge may have meaning and commitment to the understanding of the reality in which it is linked. Furthermore, the studies from Latin America and on this continent are still made as invisible in International Relations. As a methodology, this paper uses a bibliographical and exploratory review. Some authors that contributes to a construction of Latin American thought were consulted, as well as authors who have discussed the challenges and possibilities for the construction of critical thinking in Latin America and also authors who debate on the construction of knowledge in International Relations.