Convivialism, crisis and limits of the colonial system: ruptures in the spatio-temporal matrix

Abstract

This article examines the relevance of convivialist theory to understand the contemporary crisis of the global order and its territorial implications within the colonial system. It argues that the current crisis is not limited to the ideological exhaustion of neoliberalism but reflects a deeper transformation of the global power structure, expressed through rising inequality, ecological collapse, geopolitical conflicts, and the breakdown of global elite consensus. Drawing on anti-utilitarian and postcolonial perspectives, the paper proposes that convivialism offers a key interpretive framework for analyzing shifts in spatio-temporal matrices and processes of deterritorialization and reterritorialization in peripheral societies. The study develops a relational and plural conception of space and time, challenging Eurocentric and deterministic models rooted in modern Western thought. It highlights how colonial capitalism imposed linear temporalities and abstract spatialities that supported domination, while alternative territorialities—particularly in Latin America—preserve cyclical temporalities and embodied relations with nature. These alternative frameworks underpin contemporary anti-colonial resistances and emergent forms of collective organization. The article further explores how technological transformations, especially digital networks, simultaneously intensify inequalities and open new possibilities for transnational solidarity and emancipatory action. In this context, convivialism is presented as a normative and political project capable of fostering new forms of sociability based on common humanity, sociality, ecological awareness, and pluralism. Finally, the paper proposes the concept of “common ethnicity” as a pathway toward a pluriversal civilizational project that transcends binary oppositions and supports democratic, ecological, and culturally diverse forms of territorial organization. The analysis contributes to debates on deglobalization, postcolonial critique, and alternative futures grounded in solidarity and sustainability.