Symbols, Statues and Functions of the Past: The Decolonial Vision Sustains a Place in the World

Would it be reasonable to tear down statues that we criticise today? Or, on the contrary, to what extent does the maintenance of these historical figures not corroborate the already denounced imposition of some groups over others? In this chapter, these and other questions (difficult to answer) will guide us, starting from the challenge of a “demonumentalisation” of statues, places and toponymies, thus seeking a less condescending appropriation in relation to the so-called unrepresented minorities. Starting from the concepts of decoloniality and soft power and case studies that discuss two sides of the same coin: The international trafficking of cultural goods and repatriation, we seek to present an argument that places the role of the historian at the centre of contemporary decisions, precisely because it is one of the most conflicting social roles and the one that society believes can respond to the demands of the present. This text discusses the role that the decolonial vision plays in everyday life, the weight of this option and how hegemonic political positions try to transform it into a passing fad.