National construction and popular erasure in Colombia
A concept analysis of the legitimation and delegitimation of social relations in Colombia through the language of its foundational
documents: 1810–1991
This article analyses the diachronic symbolic struggle (1810–1991) waged in Colombia’s foundational documents over the
legitimation and delegitimation of social relations through the concepts “people” and “nation.” Following the introduction, the method and
theory are explained: concept analysis and language-based social ontology. The analysis of the foundational documents follows. These are
analysed as extended status function declarations that attempt to legitimate and delegitimate the concepts “people” and “nation”, in order
to authorize/deauthorize possible social relations. On the basis of the analysis, the conclusion briefly specifies the discourse of
nationism as the ontologisation and wielding of the idea of the nation against internal dissent/opposition, and points up the fundamental
importance of symbolic practice in the struggle to change social reality.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Concept-analysis and de/legitimation
- 3.Status function declarations
- 3.1X terms, Y terms, and deontologies
- 3.2The nation as freestanding Y term
- 4.The foundational documents
- 4.1The popular documents
- 4.2The national documents
- 5.Conclusion: Nationism and the ersatz people
- Note
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References