The theoretical / epistemological swings in the social sciences Latin American

Abstract

Latin American Social Sciences face a series of theoretical/epistemological challenges over the issue of how do we get knowledge to understand social reality. To do that we might have to learn the region’s historical/theoretical background, and then that will lead to pose ourselves some questions about the current dynamics of theory. Our central thesis in this paper does not consider a traditional method of understanding of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which assumed Latin America like a theoretical statement, giving out debates on modernization and amplifying deflationary policies and postmodern perspectives. At the same time it consolidated Eurocentric views and favored fragmented and dispersed theorization. The uncertainty of the academic community to cope with our society’s structural transformation and the world crisis only added to the problem.