Editorial | The Decolonial Debate: Expressions

Abstract

Certainly, it is not by chance that a decolonial worldview has been gaining strength at a time when an increasing number of countries in the global South are standing up against centuries-old mechanisms of domination imposed by North Atlantic nations. We have chosen the theme of decoloniality for issues 26 and 27 of the V!RUS journal, recognizing that the current controversies expressed in the academic sphere, questioning the validity of this thinking in its theoretical-conceptual or methodological aspects, present an opportunity for research and debate within Architecture, Urbanism, and related fields. However, our motivation is equally driven by agreement with some of its assumptions. As an example, the entire argumentation of authors such as Aníbal Quijano, Catherine Walsh, Enrique Dussel, María Lugones, Ramón Grosfoguel, and Walter Mignolo regarding the foundational and tragic role of the colonization of the Americas in shaping the European idea of Modernity and its planetary imposition as a hegemonic perspective cannot be overlooked. It seems essential to examine the historical and socio-political origins of such a domination process, the impacts of its perpetuation on how societies are organized, and its implications for the modes of knowledge production and dissemination across various domains.

The numerous submissions we have received, along with the feedback and observations from dozens of external reviewers on the ideas and experiences shared in these writings, highlight several important issues. One of them is the recognition, within this body of work, of a genuine interest from various fields in the theme. This is particularly notable because many researchers had already been addressing related topics — such as identity struggles, socio-spatial inequalities in the cities of the continent, the limitations of educational programs directed at populations with non-Eurocentric cultural backgrounds, among others — even if not always directly linking them to the decolonial discourse. Furthermore, the submissions come from institutions across Brazil and various countries in Latin America, presenting diverse readings and applications of the ideas initially formulated by the Modernity/Coloniality group (M/C): Some focus and deepen reflections on very local and specific situations, while others seek to establish dialogues with classical authors in the fields of Art, Architecture, Urban Studies, Design, Education, Literature, among others. In doing so, they consistently enrich, nuance, and problematize issues initially addressed by M/C thinkers.

The works published in these two editions, carefully selected through a rigorous process of close collaboration among authors, reviewers, and the editorial committee of the journal, constitute two sets of sub-themes: reflections related to Territory, its conceptualization, analysis, production, and modes of intervention — gathered in V!26 — and works on Expressions, encompassing artistic, literary, gender, and intersectionality themes — compiled in V!27.