From critical thought to ideological creed: A review of Decolonialism

Decolonial thought emerged as a tool to question colonial legacies in knowledge, culture, and politics. However, in recent decades, it has shifted from an epistemological critique to the configuration of an ideological framework that, in certain contexts, limits academic dialogue and empirical research. This article examines the intellectual trajectory of decolonialism from its theoretical foundations to its most recent manifestations, analyzing its expressions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It highlights the tensions between its emancipatory potential and the risks of dogmatization, as well as the ways in which certain uses of decolonial discourse have resulted in essentialisms and epistemic exclusions. Finally, it proposes a critical and dialogical anthropology that upholds methodological openness and theoretical plurality as guiding principles.