Resumen

TIAPA, Francisco. Anthropology, Colonial History and the Decolonialization of the Past. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.1, pp.13-29. ISSN 20030507.

This article presents a debate about the political inspiration of the theoretical models adopted in anthropology to interpret past societies. Some of their limitations are illustrated by examining social transformations experienced by the indigenous society in Venezuela during the colonial period. The central axis of this debate is the geopolitical dimension of the models, since they are rooted in same cultural framework characteristic of the general colonial world-view. The author emphasizes the importance of appreciating this geopolitical dimension of anthropology when broaching the problem of telling the tale from the perspective of those subject to colonial domination.

Palabras clave : Anthropology; Colonial History; Decolonization; Indigenous Population; Venezuela.