Decolonial Latin American Philosophies of Education

Introduction

The following entry explores the historical context that has given rise to the opening for and engagement with decolonial thought. The entry specifically explores the connection between critical educational thought in the region and decolonial philosophies, to portray the favoring of the holistic approach to teaching and learning throughout the Americas and beyond.

Historical Context

Since its inception, Latin America has been characterized by waves of tumultuous conquest, independence movements, democracy building, and challenges to the historical legacy of colonization and capitalist exploitation. Of particular significance, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, a number of countries in the Latin American region were gravely affected by campaigns of political oppression that led to dictatorships and their attendant repressive regimes. To a significant extent, the era of dictatorial regimes was a direct response to progressive social movements that sought to redistribute...