Decolonial Theory: Rethinking Democracy And Public Policy From The Perspective Of Epistemic Change And Plural Participation

Abstract

The paper addresses the issue of the potential of decolonial theory to serve as a critical space for analyzing the political and social structures of Latin America. This theory questions the hegemony of Eurocentric paradigms and proposes a plural epistemology that recognizes diverse forms of knowledge and social participation. It also explains how this theory articulates its position by linking theory with social praxis in order to overcome the coloniality of power and promote an inclusive and participatory democracy that recognizes the plurality of subjects and knowledge. Consequently, from a critical standpoint, the work addresses the way in which the epistemological shift occurs as a perspective that encourages a rethinking of public policies from an emancipatory vision, promoting social justice and the decolonization of political thought and action.