Realism, Globalization, and Latin America: the Quest for Democracy in the Work of Alejandroserrano Caldera

Throughout much of the Western tradition, humansubjectivity has been regarded as a major source oferror. Thus, adapting universal standards devoid ofcorrosive human influences has been thought to be arequisite for building an optimal society. Thistendency, which is predicated on social ontologicalrealism, historically encouraged projects ofcolonization, as Western standards of developmentbecame synonymous with universal reason andcivilization. Currently, neoliberal globalization isan extension of this realist legacy and demands allaspects of social life to be determined by thepresumably universal wisdom of the market. Yet, inLatin America, neoliberalism has normalized extremeinequality and cultural mutilation as innocentoutcomes of market dynamics. The present work,accordingly, draws from Alejandro Serrano Caldera, aNicaraguan philosopher and social critic, to critiquerealism and develop an anti-realist social vision onwhich to build a new type of nation, ethic, andpolitics grounded on human praxis. The point is madethat this anti-realist shift offers the possibilityto democratize the current process of globalization.