Francisco de Miranda: thinker and actor of decolonization and universal emancipation

Abstract

This article presents Francisco de Miranda as a fundamental precursor of decolonial thought, whose work and actions marked a milestone in the struggle for independence through the forging of a distinct American identity. Consistent with this thinking, his life was filled with concrete actions of emancipatory praxis, dedicating his intellectual and political work to the relentless effort of forming strategic alliances for the anticolonial struggle. His emancipatory vision was not limited to the independence of a single nation, but extended to the universal freedom of all colonized peoples. His thinking was original within its context, and its historical relevance is highlighted by his being the first to present a framework for integration, promoting cultural and political union among the colonies once liberated. Finally, the article argues for the need to reclaim his legacy for the construction of a united and free America, rescuing the sense of interculturality and solidarity among its peoples.