Abstract
This paper proposes a critical diagnosis of the peripherical condition, arguing that the distinctive feature of Latin America can be described as a double dialectic of Enlightenment: Enlightenment is a myth from the beginning, but here it is also the modernization of the archaic. After independence, former colonies resisted capitalism, though formally incorporating the symbols of liberalism. This double denial explains why Latin America has not yet built an authentic political project.
Keywords:
Periphery; Dialectics; Enlightenment