The Problem of "Misplaced Ideas" Revisited: Beyond the "History of Ideas" in Latin America

In 1973, Roberto Schwartz published a paper that profoundly marked a generation of thinkers in Latin America--"As ideias fora do lugar," or "Misplaced Ideas." It was originally intended to provide a theoretical framework for "progressivist" authors to counter the influence of nationalistic tendencies that, in the 1960s and 1970s, were particularly noticeable among the leftist political organizations. Here, Palti explores new perspectives regarding the dynamic of ideas and cultural exchange in peripheral areas--of which Latin America is only a particular case--utilizing the new conceptual tools provided by the recently developed disciplines and theories in the field.