Knowledge and emancipation

Abstract

This essay explores Latin America's struggle for epistemic independence against dominant Global North informational flows in science and technology. It addresses the impact of knowledge production domination on the region, including epistemic injustice and academic imperialism, proposing strategies for bolstering science through epistemic sovereignty. It emphasizes higher education's pivotal role in a nation's sovereignty by fostering knowledge production, global citizenship, and intellectual leadership. However, in today's multipolar world, universities in less developed countries often serve as conduits for Global North knowledge, perpetuating their agendas. The consolidation of digital environments and globalization further exacerbates this issue, leading to an anglophone bias in scientific knowledge production, diminishing the visibility and relevance of Latin American scientific contributions—a form of epistemic injustice. The essay contextualizes the concept of epistemic sovereignty, highlighting ongoing resistance efforts in Latin American higher education against knowledge production dominance and instances of epistemic injustice.