Rethinking Global Paradigms: Is a Decolonial Consensus Possible and Necessary in the 21st Century? with Walter D. Mignolo

As part of its Global Reflections series, Institute Social hosted philosopher and scholar Prof. Walter D. Mignolo from Duke University on November 25. Mignolo explored the origins of modernity, the often-invisible ways coloniality continues to shape the present, and the role of decolonial thinking in a multipolar world.

Emphasizing that modernity and coloniality cannot be separated, Mignolo stated:
“Modernity is a discourse of salvation, a historical period defined by a bundle of narratives created in Europe. Coloniality is the dark and hidden side of this discourse.” He noted that although formal colonialism has ended, coloniality continues to operate at mental, cultural, and political levels.

Highlighting the centrality of narrative in contemporary conflicts, Mignolo explained how economic and cultural power reinforce one another: “Whoever controls money also controls meaning. Today, conflicts are waged not only with weapons but through competing narratives.” For this reason, decolonization is not merely a reaction to the West; it is a relational process that requires thinking together about power dynamics and lived experiences across different geographies.

Toward the end of the event, Mignolo stressed that a decolonial consensus cannot emerge through negotiations between states alone. Instead, it must be built through social movements, universities, the media, and the public sphere, while prioritizing the decolonization of knowledge and knowledge systems.

The session concluded with a Q&A segment.