Defying the Leviathan: Community-based and intersectional approaches to decolonial leadership in Guatemala

This paper examines decolonial leadership in Guatemala, focusing on how Indigenous and marginalised communities resist colonial and authoritarian structures through community-based and intersectional approaches. Resistance to systemic injustices is not merely a reaction but an intrinsic part of Guatemala’s historical and social fabric. Based on interviews with Indigenous leaders, feminists, LGBTQ advocates, and legal experts from 2019 to 2023, the study contests Western-centric leadership paradigms. Findings reveal that resistance movements adhere to a collective leadership rooted in community and intersectionality, integrating Indigenous knowledge systems and communitarian feminism. The community-based approach critiques individualism, hierarchical structures, and anthropocentrism. Thus, decolonial leadership underscores the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, reframing leadership as an inclusive, contextually grounded practice. Moreover, the intersectional approach highlights the role of diverse identities, specifically examining race/ethnicity, gender, and class dimensions. This study seeks to present a counter-narrative that values local knowledge and cultural specificity, providing a nuanced perspective on leadership as a means to dismantle colonial hierarchies and address systemic injustices. As such, the paper seeks to contribute to a leadership discourse that reflects a plurality of voices, perspectives, and contexts, thereby broadening the field with a more representative understanding of leadership practices.