Challenges for Left-Wing Theory in Mexico in the 1990s

Some 30 years ago, very intensive theoretical debates took place in the social sciences and particularly in sociology. This paper will focus on debates in Mexico that are attempting to reorient left-wing theories. The decisive factors here are above all: 1) The criticism of dogmatic forms of Marxism, which are articulating in this country since the 1960s. 2) The so-called end of “real-existing socialism”, which intensifies the criticism of Marxism. 3) The opening towards non-Marxist social theories, especially the systematic reading of classical social theory. 4) The need for theoretical tools compatible with concrete political and social challenges, especially that of democratization. 5) The economic transformations from an industrial capitalism based on national production to a globalized financial capitalism and the important theoretical challenges that these transformations entail. 6) The consolidation and “academization” of the social sciences and the humanities in the university system.

The lecture gives an overview of various attempts to reorient left-wing theories against the background of the above-mentioned topics. The focus will be on four large-scale individual projects which, although they do not originate in sociology, have had an impact on sociological thought and especially social theory that can hardly be overlooked. The names related with these projects are Enrique Dussel, Bolívar Echeverría, Carlos Pereyra and Luis Villoro.