The history of colonialism has been one of turning points in today’s cultural discussion. One major criticism is directed to modernism. Within its history, eurocentric perspective becomes major narrative rejecting that of the third world countries as part its progression. This is linked to the power that narrates the history through colonialism. Furthermore, this issue relates to the idea of representation. How the non-European cultures connoted. Realizing this notion, theorists such as Edward Said developed and introduced postcolonial theory.
Said highlights the prevailing binary opposition between the west and the rest. There are some findings such as the rest is often depicted especially in Literature as the other which is exotic and less …show more content…
He critiques the modernity mainly its coloniality together with its eurocentric perspective. However, Mignolo does not apply post-colonial theory as his starting point. He proposes a relatively new concept which is decolonial thinking. With this concept, he draws a distinction line and distance separating it from post-colonial theory as well as postmodernism.
According to Mignolo, the post-colonial theory derived just after the end of British colonization in India and Egypt. It is voiced by the third world intellectuals especially through their mastery of literary theories and continental philosophies. It is influenced by the rise of post-structuralism in Europe proposed by western philosophers such as Michael Foucault, Derrida etc. Mignolo criticizes that this theory is lack of references from the third world thinkers’ thoughts who experience the colonialism itself such as Mahatma Gandhi, Frantz Fanon and others. Consequently, Mignolo’s attitude toward postcolonial theory and postmodernism looks