Boaventura de Sousa Santos and the “Post-Modernity of contestation”: some marxist notations

Abstract

It’s pretty much consensual that the last quarter of the 20^th century brought some significant changes in the macro social organization of the modern societies and also in the theories used to its explanation and/or transformation. It is on that period that raises the very diverse socio-cultural movement of the “post-modernity”. Boaventura de Sousa Santos is probably the most important theoretical and militant [having a huge influence in the World Social Forum, for example] of the “combat post-modernity” proposal, term in which he was the creator. The “combat post-modernity” investigates the possibilities of achieving the ideals of modernity using post-modern ways. In this attempt, a very large variety of topics were developed, from the socio-historical evaluation of modernity to the necessary political mediations in the implementation of the intended ideals, passing through the concept of science and even from an epistemological-ontological discussion. The present article has the objective to critically analyze the mentioned attempt, fundamentally from the elaborations of the lusitanian sociologist, having marxism as parameter.