Nations and Difference: A Discussion about Diversity in Post-Colonialist Thought

Resumo

The paper discusses the concepts of nation in post-colonial thinking, which emphasizes dimensions of discursive power and cultural difference. The aim is to examine, in particular, the consistency of new theoretical perceptions on the national question, comparing them to some theories that assume a sociocultural homogeneity. The analysis argues that postcolonial authors have virtues in observing significant aspects of cultural imaginaries and political practices, although their work also manifest some inaccuracies, particularly the assumption of a subject free of constraints and a dichotomous understanding of the state-society relationship.