Post(-)colonial declensions à la portugaise? Postcolonial theory and national culture in Portugal

Abstract

The various postcolonial generations (subaltern studies, postcolonial studies, decolonial studies, epistemologies of the South) have had territorialized origins (India, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Andean America, Portugal) which, despite the stated transnational objective, have had important consequences on the contents. Portugal is an interesting case study to examine whether or not the postcolonial thought that developed there was at odds with the country's post-imperial national culture. In particular, the thought of Boaventura de Sousa Santos is a good example to demonstrate, despite an apparent radicality, the maintenance of essential features of the national tradition, mixed with a postmodern heritage.